Microplastic Analysis in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (MAP-IBD)

Medical University of Gdansk

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); Ulcerative Colitis (UC); Crohn Disease

Treatments: Other: Environmental microplastic exposure

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07141238

MAP-IBD-2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this observational study is to measure and compare the presence of microplastics in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and children without IBD. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Are microplastics detectable in different biological samples from children? Are there differences in microplastic burden between children with and without IBD?

Researchers will collect biological samples including: intestinal tissue (from routine endoscopy), stool, urine, blood.

Raman spectroscopy will be used to detect and characterize microplastics in each sample type. Participants will not receive any medication or intervention as part of this study. All samples will be collected during standard clinical procedures.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age <18 years
• Undergoing clinically indicated gastrointestinal endoscopy
• For IBD group: confirmed diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
• For control group: no current or past diagnosis of IBD

Exclusion criteria

• Age 18 years or older
• Lack of informed consent from legal guardian
• Lack of written assent from the participant if age ≥13 years

Trial design

40 participants in 2 patient groups

Pediatric IBD group

Description:

Children diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) undergoing clinically indicated endoscopy. Biological samples, including intestinal biopsies, stool, urine, and blood, will be collected and analyzed for microplastic content using Raman spectroscopy.

Treatment:

Other: Environmental microplastic exposure

Control group

Description:

Children without a diagnosis of IBD undergoing endoscopy for non-inflammatory indications (e.g., polyps, anemia). Biological samples, including intestinal biopsies, stool, urine, and blood, will be collected and analyzed for microplastic content using Raman spectroscopy.

Treatment:

Other: Environmental microplastic exposure