Researchers are recruiting autistic adults who have gut problems to test whether faecal transplants help.
Arizona State University (ASU) is carrying out the study. It follows earlier research by the same team suggesting children with autism who have gut problems may benefit.
Professor James Adams is leading a study on the impact of faecal transplants on autistic adults
Professor James Adams, who has an adult daughter with autism, is leading the study.
Adams said he has already “started recruiting and treating study participants”.
The researcher was some way short of the planned 84 participants at the time of writing. However, he insisted that “many have applied”.
Faecal microbiota
Under the procedure, medics transplant faecal microbiota (FMT) into the intestines.
Doctors have used FMT to treat superbug clostridium difficile (C. diff), which can lead to fatal diarrhoea.
The first part of the phase II trial will be double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled.
This means researchers will give some participants an inactive ingredient to compare against the treatment. It also means neither researchers nor participants know who receives which.
Placebo or antibiotic
The trial begins with a two-week course on the placebo or oral vancomycin, an antibiotic used to treat C. diff.
This is followed by one day on MoviPrep. This is a laxative solution that increases the amount of water in the intestinal tract to stimulate bowel movements.
Then the participants take the faecal transplant in the form of a pill or the inactive treatment.
Researchers give participants a high-dose transplant pill, followed by a lower-dose one or placebo for eight weeks.
Additional benefits
The second part of the trial sees an eight-week extension of the lower dose for the treatment group to track additional benefits.
The placebo group from the first stage then take MoviPrep. After that, the group take the transplant pill for eight weeks. It is initially at a high dose, before they switch to a lower-level dose.
New drugs are expected to go through two large phase III trials before licensing.
Professor Adams can be contacted at: jim.adams@asu.edu
Related:
- Study finds faecal transplants effective
- Bowel disease far more common in autism
- Study seeks proof of gut link to autism
- Stress ‘likely cause of gut issues’
- Evidence grows for autism link to gut
Published: 24 September 2018
