2019: BMJ Open Gastroenterology: Acute Diarrhoea
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BMJ Open Gastroenterology · 2019
Enterosgel® for the Treatment of Adults with Acute Diarrhoea in a Primary Care Setting: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Prof. Ramesh Arasaradnam · Dr Preeti Pandya · Dr Carol Howell · BMJ Open Gastroenterology · 2019
Full citation
Enterosgel (polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate) for the treatment of adults with acute diarrhoea in a primary care setting: a randomised controlled trial.
Arasaradnam R, Pandya P, Howell C et al. BMJ Open Gastroenterology 2019.
Study design
How the trial was conducted
This was a randomised controlled trial conducted in a primary care setting, enrolling 105 adult subjects with patient-reported acute diarrhoea. Participants were randomised to receive either Enterosgel® in addition to standard care, or standard care alone.
Trial design at a glance
Primary care — reflecting real-world clinical practice for acute diarrhoea management.
Enterosgel® up to six times daily for up to 8 days, plus standard care (oral rehydration solution).
Standard care alone (oral rehydration solution).
105 adult subjects with patient-reported acute diarrhoea.
Results
What the trial found
Enterosgel® treatment was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of diarrhoea in adults with patient-reported acute diarrhoea, compared with standard care alone. The findings demonstrate that adding Enterosgel® to standard oral rehydration therapy meaningfully shortens the course of acute diarrhoea in adults in a primary care setting.
Conclusion
Why these findings matter
These findings support the role of Enterosgel® in acute diarrhoea, especially in vulnerable groups where rapid resolution of symptoms is required. A reduction in symptom duration could translate directly to reduced healthcare costs and socioeconomic burden — a significant finding for primary care prescribing decisions.
Acute diarrhoea affects millions of people each year and is one of the most common reasons for primary care consultations. Access to a safe, drug-free option that demonstrably shortens the duration of illness — without the risks associated with opioid-based antidiarrhoeals — represents a meaningful addition to the clinician’s toolkit.
“The acute diarrhoea study showed that Enterosgel® can reduce the duration of acute diarrhoea and relieve associated symptoms, and is one of the few safe treatment options currently available for children.”
Dr Preeti Pandya — Chief Investigator, Acute Diarrhoea Study · The Village Practice, Thornton-Cleveleys, UK
The investigators
About the research team
Authors — BMJ Open Gastroenterology 2019
Prof. Ramesh Arasaradnam — Principal Investigator
Department of Academic Gastroenterology, University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW), Coventry, UK. Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Coventry, Coventry, UK.
Dr Preeti Pandya — Chief Investigator
The Village Practice, Thornton-Cleveleys, UK.
Dr Carol Howell
Research Director, Enteromed Ltd. University of Brighton, School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Brighton, UK.
Read the full clinical evidence for Enterosgel®
Including all published clinical trials, NHS Drug Tariff listing, and resources for healthcare professionals and patients.
View the research →References
- Arasaradnam R, Pandya P, Howell C et al. Enterosgel (polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate) for the treatment of adults with acute diarrhoea in a primary care setting: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open Gastroenterology 2019.
- Howell CA et al. Double-blinded randomised placebo controlled trial of enterosgel for the treatment of IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D). Gut 2022;71:2430–2438. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327293