Efficacy of Microbiome Manipulation Strategies (fecAL Microbial Transplantation OR Anti-inflammatory diEt OR Both) in Combination With 5-aminosalicylic Acid for Induction and Maintenance of Remission in Patients With Mild to Moderate tReatment Naive Active Ulcerative Colitis: a Multicentre Double-blind Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial(ALTER-UC)
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the colon and rectum, characterized by mucosal inflammation and symptomslike diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding. It is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and results from a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and immune dysregulation. UC is associated with significant gut microbiota dysbiosis, marked by reduced beneficial bacteria and increased harmful taxa. With rising prevalence in developing countries like India, effective and accessible treatments remain a critical need. This multi-center randomized factorial double blind placebo controlled treat through trial will utilize a 2x 2 factorial design to randomize patients of mild to moderate (modified Mayo score 3-6) endoscopically active (Mayo endoscopic score: \>1) treatment naÃive UC in 1:1:1:1 ratio to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) + anti-inflammatory diet (AID) +5-aminisalicylic acid (5-ASA) (Intervention, Group A) vs fecal microbiota transplantation + sham diet +5-aminisalicylic acid(Intervention, Group B) vs sham transplantation + anti-inflammatory diet +5-aminisalicylic acid(Intervention, Group C) vs sham transplantation \+ sham diet +5-aminisalicylic acid(Control, Group D). In the induction phase patients will receive FMT/sham transplantation at 0, 2 and 6 weeks along with AID/Sham diet and 5-ASA for 10 weeks. Outcome will be assessed at 10 weeks, Treatment failure will be out of trial. Patients with clinical response at 10 weeks will continue in the maintenance phase and will receive FMT/sham transplantation at 10, 18, 26, 34, and 42 weeks along with AID/Sham diet and 5-ASA till48 weeks. Outcome will be assessed at 48 weeks. Treatment failure will be out of trial. The primary efficacy outcome will evaluate fecal microbial transplantation or anti- inflammatory diet or combination of both vs placebo. The primary outcomes are proportion of patients having clinical remission and endoscopic response at week 10 and proportion of patients having clinical remission and endoscopic remission at week 48. Modified intention to treat analysis will be done and patients who receive at least 1 dose of intervention will be included for outcome assessment.
• Patients with treatment-naive ulcerative colitis of any disease extent. Patients with proctitis will be limited to 25% of the entire pool of patients.
• Mild to moderate endoscopically active disease (modified Mayo clinic score (mMS) 3-6, with Mayo endoscopic score greater than or equal to 2).
• Aged between 18-75 years.
• Patients giving consent for FMT.
• Patients who agree to adhere to the diet schedule.
• Patients on oral or topical ASA for less than 4 weeks.
• Patients on oral steroids/ topical steroids for less than 1 week.
• Infective colitis should be ruled out by histologic appearance of crypt architecture distortion/basal plasmacytosis, or two sigmoidoscopies, at least 7 days apart showing evidence of endoscopic activity.