QST Study: Predicting Treatment Response in Chronic Pancreatitis Using Quantitative Sensory Testing

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Chronic Pancreatitis; Chronic Pain
• Interventions: Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 1; Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 2; Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 3

• Registration Number: NCT03434392
• Lead Sponsor: Anna Evans Phillips

Brief Summary

Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) is a novel investigative technique used in other pain conditions to evaluate patterns of chronic pain, and in this study will be used to elucidate pain patterns in patients with Chronic Pancreatitis (CP). QST uses a specific series of standardized stimulations to map the pain system. QST has the potential to change and improve the treatment paradigm for patients with CP and may eventually be able to predict response to invasive CP therapies.

Detailed Description

In Chronic Pancreatitis (CP), clinical pain symptoms correlate poorly with pancreatic ductal morphology, response to endoscopic or surgical therapy is unpredictable, and the rationale for invasive therapies is often questioned. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a technique used to map the pain system based on the rationale that different neural pathways and networks can be explored using standardized stimulation and simultaneous recording of the evoked pain response by psychophysical and/or objective methods. In this study, the investigators aim to distinguish phenotypes characterized by segmental sensitization of the pancreatic viscerotome, and systemic sensitization with pathological central pain processing.

The investigators will perform QST on controls and CP subjects consisting of stimulation in several different dermatomes including pancreatic and control areas. All subjects will also answer standardized questionnaires assessing pain, depression, anxiety, and quality of life at baseline. Subjects undergoing endoscopic or surgical therapy will also undergo follow-up testing consisting of the same tests at 1, 3, and 6 months post-procedure for evaluation of changes in their pain profile.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-10-24
• Study First Submitted: 2017-11-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-02-08
• Study First Posted: 2018-02-15
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-07
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-09
• Primary Completion: 2026-06-30
• Study Completion: 2026-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 500

Inclusion Criteria

1. Subjects with no pancreatic disease and no abdominal pain, or patients with a diagnosis of functional dyspepsia.

   • Subjects are 18 years or older in age
   • Subjects must be able to read and understand the study information.
   • Personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.
   • Subject is willing and able to comply with the scheduled visits, questionnaires, treatment plan, and other study procedures.

2. Suspected CPs Inclusion Criteria

   • Subjects are 18 years or older in age
   • Subjects with a) Indeterminate CP (Cambridge 1 or 2 on CT scan or MRI/MRCP) who have abdominal pain without prior history of AP, or b) those with acute (AP) or recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) who have recovered from their attack(s) of AP, whose imaging studies are either normal or show changes consistent with Cambridge classification of 1 or 2, and they have ongoing abdominal pain. Both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects will be allowed to enter the study.
   • Subjects must be able to read and understand the study information.
   • Subjects must suffer from abdominal pain suspected to be pancreatic origin with an intensity above 3 on the visual analogue scale (VAS, where 0=no pain and 10= intolerable pain), and meet the criteria for chronic pain (pain ≥ 3 days per week for at least 3 months).
   • Personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.
   • Subjects willing and able to comply with the scheduled visits, questionnaires, and other study procedures.

3. Definite Chronic Pancreatitis - Inclusion Criteria

   • Subjects are 18 years or older in age
   • Subjects will have a prior confirmed diagnosis of CP on CT scan or MRI/MRCP according to Cambridge Classification (grade 3 or 4). Both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects will be allowed to enter the study.
   • Subjects must be able to read and understand the study information.
   • Personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.
   • Subjects willing and able to comply with the scheduled visits, questionnaires, and other study procedures.

4. Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) Type 1 or Type 2 Inclusion Criteria

   • Subjects are 18 years or older in age
   • Subjects have prior diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (subjects with biliary pain accompanied by biochemical features of transient biliary tract obstruction including elevated transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, or conjugated bilirubin; may also be accompanied by biliary or pancreatic ductal dilation on imaging)
   • Subjects must be able to read and understand the study information.
   • Personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.
   • Subjects willing and able to comply with the scheduled visits, questionnaires, and other study procedures.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Subjects with no pancreatic disease and no abdominal pain, or patients with a diagnosis of functional dyspepsia.

   • Subjects with evidence or history of medical or surgical disease of importance for this study as judged by investigator.
   • Subjects suffering from painful conditions that make them unable to distinguish the pain associated with CP from chronic pain of other origins.
   • Subjects with known pregnancy at the time of enrolment.
   • Subjects who have previously undergone surgical intervention on their pancreas.

2. Suspected CPs Exclusion Criteria

   • Subjects with evidence or history of medical or surgical disease of importance for this study as judged by investigator.
   • Subjects suffering from painful conditions other than pancreatitis or SOD type 1 or 2 that make them unable to distinguish the pain associated with pancreatitis or SOD from chronic pain of other origins.
   • Subjects with known pregnancy at the time of enrolment.
   • Subjects who have previously undergone surgical intervention on their pancreas.

3. Definite Chronic Pancreatitis Exclusion Criteria

   • Subjects with evidence or history of medical or surgical disease of importance for this study as judged by investigator.
   • Subjects suffering from painful conditions other than pancreatitis or SOD type 1 or 2 that make them unable to distinguish the pain associated with pancreatitis or SOD from chronic pain of other origins.
   • Subjects with known pregnancy at the time of enrolment.
   • Subjects who have previously undergone surgical intervention on their pancreas.

4. Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) Type 1 or Type 2 Exclusion Criteria

   • Subjects with evidence or history of medical or surgical disease of importance for this study as judged by investigator.
   • Subjects suffering from painful conditions other than pancreatitis or SOD that make them unable to distinguish the pain associated with pancreatitis or SOD from chronic pain of other origins.
   • Subjects with known pregnancy at the time of enrolment.
   • Subjects who have previously undergone surgical intervention on their pancreas.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Suspected CP	Quantitative Sensory Test 2	Suspected Chronic Pancreatitis patients. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.
Healthy Controls	Quantitative Sensory Test 1	Subjects with no pancreatic disease and no abdominal pain. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.
Healthy Controls	Quantitative Sensory Test 2	Subjects with no pancreatic disease and no abdominal pain. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.
Healthy Controls	Quantitative Sensory Test 3	Subjects with no pancreatic disease and no abdominal pain. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.
Suspected CP	Quantitative Sensory Test 1	Suspected Chronic Pancreatitis patients. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.
Definite CP	Quantitative Sensory Test 1	Definite Chronic Pancreatitis patients. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires. A subset of these patients who undergo endotherapy as per clinical recommendation from clinical provider independent of this study will be followed for 6 months after their clinical intervention for repeat Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3 and questionnaires.
Definite CP	Quantitative Sensory Test 2	Definite Chronic Pancreatitis patients. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires. A subset of these patients who undergo endotherapy as per clinical recommendation from clinical provider independent of this study will be followed for 6 months after their clinical intervention for repeat Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3 and questionnaires.
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or Functional Dyspepsia	Quantitative Sensory Test 2	Patients with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Type 1 or Type 2, or who have a prior diagnosis of Functional Dyspepsia. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.
Suspected CP	Quantitative Sensory Test 3	Suspected Chronic Pancreatitis patients. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.
Definite CP	Quantitative Sensory Test 3	Definite Chronic Pancreatitis patients. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires. A subset of these patients who undergo endotherapy as per clinical recommendation from clinical provider independent of this study will be followed for 6 months after their clinical intervention for repeat Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3 and questionnaires.
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or Functional Dyspepsia	Quantitative Sensory Test 1	Patients with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Type 1 or Type 2, or who have a prior diagnosis of Functional Dyspepsia. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or Functional Dyspepsia	Quantitative Sensory Test 3	Patients with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Type 1 or Type 2, or who have a prior diagnosis of Functional Dyspepsia. Subjects will undergo the following Interventions: Quantitative Sensory Test 1, Quantitative Sensory Test 2, and Quantitative Sensory Test 3, They will also fill out validated questionnaires.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain Pattern Assessment as assessed by the combination of Temporal Summation score, Sensitization score, and Conditioned Pain Modulation score	One-time baseline testing	Assignment to one of four groups (Segmental Sensitization, Systemic Sensitization, Impaired Conditioned Pain Modulation, or Other) based on combination of patient-reported pain symptoms. Temporal summation pain symptoms are measured on visual analogue scales which are measured from 0 (minimum) to 10 (maximum). 10 on this scale indicates worse pain; 0 indicates no pain. Sensitization scores are measured via patient reported thresholds in kilopascals. Conditioned Pain modulation is measured also via patient reported threshold in kilopascals.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Mean Pain score	90 days	In Definite CP Patients undergoing endotherapy as part of regular clinical care, assessment of mean pain level for 7 days prior to endotherapy will be assessed immediately pre-procedure and again at 90 days post-procedure. A pain reduction of \>30% in 90 days after procedure will be characterized as positive response to procedure.

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Indiana University Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions; 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland, United States

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States