Approximately 10% of all female Crohn's patients have a rectovaginal fistula. Rectovaginal fistulas cause air, stool, and/or drainage per vagina and may be associated with pain, recurrent urinary tract infections and diminished quality of life. Conventional therapy includes immunosuppressive medications used to treat Crohn's disease and various surgical interventions. However, all have limited ability to heal these fistulas. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of using allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat people with rectovaginal fistulas in the setting of Crohn's disease.
This study is designed to determine the safety and efficacy of direct injection of adult allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of rectovaginal fistulas in the setting of Crohn's disease. The study will randomize 20 participants. Enrolled participants will be randomized to treatment group with MSCs versus placebo in a 3:1 fashion. Participants in the treatment group will have a direct injection of MSCs at a dose of 75 million cells. This will be given as a direct injection in and around the fistula tract. Participants will be evaluated for complete healing at three months. If complete healing has been achieved patients will continue to be followed for one year. If complete healing has not been achieved at three months, participants will be eligible for a second injection of MSCs at the same dose of 75 million cells. Control participants without complete healing from placebo will cross over at the six month visit to receive an injection of MSCs, and will be followed for one year after treatment for a total duration of 18 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
Adult allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of rectovaginal fistulas in the setting of Crohn's disease.
Normal Saline
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
RECRUITINGTreatment related adverse events
Number of participants with treatment related adverse events post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of rectovaginal fistula in the setting of Crohn's disease as assessed by protocol CCF-Stem Cells IBD-003
Time frame: Month 6
Complete clinical healing
Number of participants with complete clinical healing post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of rectovaginal fistula in the setting of Crohn's disease. Complete healing is defined as: Radiographic Healing: MRI with an absence of a fluid collection \>2 cm in 3 of 3 dimensions, lack of edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. A remnant scar of a fistula tract may remain Clinical Healing: 100% cessation of drainage on both clinical exam with deep palpation and per patient report and complete closure of the fistula tract upon assessment with an examination under anesthesia
Time frame: Month 6, Month 12
Partial healing
Number of participants with partial clinical healing post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of rectovaginal fistula in the setting of Crohn's disease Partial healing is defined as: Radiographic healing: MRI with an absence of a fluid collection \>2 cm in 2 of 3 dimensions, lack of edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. A remnant scar of a fistula tract may remain Clinical healing: Greater than or equal to 50% cessation of drainage on both clinical exam with deep palpation and per patient report and partial closure of the fistula tract upon assessment with an examination under anesthesia
Time frame: Month 6, Month 12
Lack of response
Number of participants with lack of response post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of rectovaginal fistula in the setting of Crohn's disease Lack of Response is defined as: Radiographic and clinical healing which does not meet the threshold for Partial Healing
Time frame: Month 6, Month 12
Worsening disease
Number of participants with worsening disease post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of rectovaginal fistula in the setting of Crohn's disease Worsening disease is defined as: Radiographic: MRI with a fluid collection \>2 cm in 2 of 3 dimensions, edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. An increased number of tracts may be seen, or increased branching from the primary tract, Clinical: Increased drainage per patient report and on clinical exam
Time frame: Month 6, Month 12
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