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Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea using titrated ondansetron (TRITON): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

  • David Gunn
  • , Ron Fried
  • , Rabia Lalani
  • , Amanda Farrin
  • , Ivana Holloway
  • , Tom Morris
  • , Catherine Olivier
  • , Rachael Kearns
  • , Maura Corsetti
  • , Mark Scott
  • , Adam Farmer
  • , Anton Emmanuel
  • , Peter Whorwell
  • , Yan Yiannakou
  • , David Sanders
  • , John Mclaughlin
  • , Kapil Kapur
  • , Maria Eugenicos
  • , Ayesha Akbar
  • , Nigel Trudgill
  • Lesley Houghton, Phil G Dinning, Alexander C Ford, Qasim Aziz, Robin Spiller
  • Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • University of Leeds
  • University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
  • University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
  • Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • NHS Lothian
  • London North West Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Sandwell District General Hospital
  • Flinders University of South Australia
  • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) affects up to 4% of the general population. Symptoms include frequent, loose, or watery stools with associated urgency, resulting in marked reduction of quality of life and loss of work productivity. Ondansetron, a 5HT3 receptor antagonist, has had an excellent safety record for over 20 years as an antiemetic, yet is not widely used in the treatment of IBS-D. It has, however, been shown to slow colonic transit and in a small randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study, benefited patients with IBS-D.

METHODS: This trial is a phase III, parallel group, randomised, double-blind, multi-centre, placebo-controlled trial, with embedded mechanistic studies. Participants (n = 400) meeting Rome IV criteria for IBS-D will be recruited from outpatient and primary care clinics and by social media to receive either ondansetron (dose titrated up to 24 mg daily) or placebo for 12 weeks. Throughout the trial, participants will record their worst abdominal pain, worst urgency, stool frequency, and stool consistency on a daily basis. The primary endpoint is the proportion of "responders" in each group, using Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations. Secondary endpoints include pain intensity, stool consistency, frequency, and urgency. Mood and quality of life will also be assessed. Mechanistic assessments will include whole gut transit, faecal tryptase and faecal bile acid concentrations at baseline and between weeks 8 and 11. A subgroup of participants will also undergo assessment of sensitivity (n = 80) using the barostat, and/or high-resolution colonic manometry (n = 40) to assess motor patterns in the left colon and the impact of ondansetron.

DISCUSSION: The TRITON trial aims to assess the effect of ondansetron across multiple centres. By defining ondansetron's mechanisms of action we hope to better identify patients with IBS-D who are likely to respond.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN17508514 , Registered on 2 October 2017.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)517
JournalTrials
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Aug 2019

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