Plain-English translation of NCT03983473 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Crohn Disease research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
The MICROSPA study is looking for specific patterns in gut bacteria that might help doctors identify and understand spondyloarthritis (a type of joint inflammation) in people who have Crohn's disease. Researchers will collect stool samples and blood from people with Crohn's disease alone, joint inflammation alone, both conditions together, and healthy people without either condition to compare their gut bacteria and immune markers.
Many people with Crohn's disease also develop joint inflammation, but doctors don't have good ways to predict who will develop this problem or why it happens. This study aims to find specific bacteria patterns that could help identify people at risk and eventually lead to better treatments.
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You would provide a stool sample and have blood drawn so researchers can study your gut bacteria and immune system markers. The study compares these samples across four groups—people with Crohn's disease only, joint inflammation only, both conditions, and healthy volunteers—to identify bacterial patterns that may be linked to disease. Most of the study involves the one-time collection of these samples at a hospital in Nancy, France.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 2, 2026 · Not medical advice
France