About this trial
This clinical trial tests if oral vancomycin can safely treat active ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults who also have primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a liver condition. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Can oral vancomycin improve UC symptoms as measured by Mayo score at 4 weeks? * Is oral vancomycin safe and tolerable in this patient group?
Participants will be compared to see if vancomycin works better than placebo. Participants will:
* Take oral vancomycin (250 mg twice daily) or identical placebo capsules for 4 weeks * Have the option for 4 more weeks of open-label vancomycin after the blinded phase * Attend clinic visits at baseline, week 4, and follow-up for Mayo scoring, endoscopy, blood/stool tests, and safety checks * Track treatment adherence and side effects
The study primarily assesses if the trial can recruit 14 participants, retain them, achieve good adherence, and follow protocol procedures (feasibility). Secondary goals include safety (adverse events) and early signs of benefit in UC activity, liver tests, and gut bacteria balance. This pilot will guide larger future studies.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults aged ≥18 years.
Confirmed diagnosis of UC and PSC.
Moderate to severe UC disease activity (total Mayo score ≥5; endoscopic subscore ≥2).
Informed consent provided.
Disqualifiers
Diagnosis of Crohn's disease or indeterminate colitis.
Fulminant colitis or need for immediate surgical intervention.
Use of antibiotics or probiotics within the past 4 weeks (for microbiome substudy).
Decompensated liver disease (Child-Pugh B/C).
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Placebo (blinded)
- Vancomycin (blinded)
- Vancomycin (open-label extension)
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
McMaster University
Lead sponsor
Weston Family Foundation
Collaborator