The Effect of a Single Intravenous Injection of Esketamine During Cesarean Section on Postoperative Pruritus in Patients With Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy

April 23, 2026 updated by: Guolin Wang, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital

The Effect of a Single Intravenous Injection of Esketamine During Cesarean Section on Postoperative Pruritus in Patients With Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy:A Single-center Randomized Controlled Trial

To explore the effect of a single intravenous injection of esketamine during cesarean section on postoperative pruritus in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is an important obstetric complication that occurs in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, characterized mainly by pruritus and elevated serum total bile acid (TBA) levels.

Pruritus usually begins on the palms and soles of the feet and can gradually spread. It typically shows a 'lighter during the day and heavier at night' pattern, severely affecting the patient's quality of life. It can also lead to physical and psychological disorders, and even cause mental abnormalities and self-harming behaviors in patients.

Esketamine is the right-handed isomer of ketamine and is a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. It has the effects of rapid pain relief, rapid antidepressant action, sedation, and improvement of sleep. Relevant studies have shown that the NMDA receptor may play an important role in the transmission of non-histaminergic itching. Eslicarbazepine acetate, as a highly selective NMDA receptor antagonist, may alleviate the transmission and propagation of itching. However, there are no reports on whether a single intravenous injection of esketamine can alleviate the pruritus symptoms of patients with pregnancy-induced intrahepatic cholestasis. This experiment aims to investigate the effect of a single intravenous injection of esketamine during cesarean section on postoperative pruritus in patients with pregnancy-induced intrahepatic cholestasis.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
160

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
      • Tianjin, China, 300052

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age: 18 - 40 years old; Gestational age: ≥ 35 weeks; Singleton pregnancy.
  2. Clear consciousness, able to cooperate with NRS scoring, laboratory tests and follow-up.
  3. Meet the diagnostic criteria of the "Clinical Diagnosis, Treatment and Management Guidelines for Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (2024 Edition)" : fasting serum TBA≥10 μmol/L or postprandial serum TBA≥19 μmol/L.
  4. Reporting pruritus NRS ≥ 4 points twice within one week.
  5. Planned to undergo cesarean section under intraspinal anesthesia.
  6. ASA classification: I - III grade.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Those who are known to be allergic to the drug components or have an allergic constitution.
  2. Related to the safe use of esketamine: history of mental illness; uncontrolled hypertension; uncontrolled hyperthyroidism; increased intracranial pressure, increased intraocular pressure; long-term alcohol consumption or drug abuse history.
  3. Those with severe organic diseases and liver diseases.
  4. Those with malignant tumors.
  5. Other pruritic diseases: uremic pruritus, true erythrocytosis, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, eosinophilia, drug rash and drug-induced pruritus, and other pruritic diseases that are easily confused, such as atopic dermatitis, pemphigus, scabies, parasitic delusionism, artificial dermatitis, etc.
  6. Eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome; fetal developmental abnormalities, multiple pregnancies.
  7. ASA classification as grade IV.
  8. Those with poor compliance and unable to complete the trial according to the research protocol.
  9. Those who have participated in other drug clinical trials within the past 4 weeks.

  10. Due to any reason, the researchers consider that there is any situation that is not suitable for inclusion.

    -

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo group of parturients with ICP and pruritus received normal saline
The equal volume of normal saline was injected intravenously after fetal delivery during the operation
Drug: Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl)
The same volume of normal saline was injected after fetal delivery during the operation
Active Comparator: Group of parturients with ICP and pruritus received esketamine 0.3mg/kg
Esketamine 0.3mg/kg was injected intravenously after fetal delivery during the operation
Drug: Esketamine 0.3mg/kg
Esketamine 0.3mg/kg was given intravenously after fetal delivery during the operation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
NRS pruritus score at 24 hours after surgery
Time Frame: 24 hours after the surgery
The patient evaluated the intensity of pruritus with 11 numbers ranging from 0 to 10, and the higher the number, the more severe the condition. The higher the number, the more severe the itching. 0: No sensation. 1-3: Mild itching. 4-6: Moderate itching. 7-9: Severe itching. 10: Extremely severe itching.
24 hours after the surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
5-D itch scale at 72 hours after surgery
Time Frame: 72 hours after surgery
The duration, severity, outcome trend, life impairment, and pruritus site (5-D) were used to evaluate the patient's pruritus. Each dimension was scored from 1 to 5, with a total score ranging from 5 to 25. The higher the score, the more severe the itching.
72 hours after surgery
NRS pruritus score at 6 hours、12 hours、48 hours、72h ours and the seventh day after surgery
Time Frame: 6 hours、12 hours、48 hours、72 hours and the seventh day after surgery
The patient evaluated the intensity of pruritus with 11 numbers ranging from 0 to 10, and the higher the number, the more severe the condition. The higher the number, the more severe the itching. 0: No sensation. 1-3: Mild itching. 4-6: Moderate itching. 7-9: Severe itching. 10: Extremely severe itching.
6 hours、12 hours、48 hours、72 hours and the seventh day after surgery
The incidence of pruritus on the 24 hours after surgery
Time Frame: 24 hours after surgery
The NRS pruritus score was completed by the patient 24 hours after the operation. The investigators recorded this score as a statistical indicator.
24 hours after surgery
Total bile acid at 24 hours after surgery
Time Frame: 24 hours after surgery
The patient's fasting total bile acid level was checked the day before the operation. The investigators rechecked the fasting total bile acid levels 24 hours after the patient's surgery to assess the changes in total bile acid.
24 hours after surgery
Pain Score (NRS)
Time Frame: 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours after the surgery
The pain score at rest or after movement was evaluated by pain 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS): 0 = no pain, 10 = greatest imaginable pain.
6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours after the surgery
The incidence of postoperative sleep disturbance on the first、second and third postoperative nights
Time Frame: the first、second and third nights after surgery
The patient completed the Sleep Quality Scale (AIS，Athens Insomnia Scale) one day before the surgery. There are a total of 8 items in the AIS, with the score ranging from 0 to 24. A total score of 6 or above indicates a diagnosis of insomnia. We asked the patients to fill out this questionnaire after the first, second and third postoperative nights to evaluate the changes in sleep quality. The investigators recorded AIS scores as statistical indicators.
the first、second and third nights after surgery
Postoperative anxiety
Time Frame: 72 hours after the surgery
The patient completed the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale) one day before the surgery. The SAS consists of 20 items. Among them, 15 items are positive ratings (such as "I feel more nervous and anxious than usual"), and 5 items are negative ratings (such as "I feel everything is fine", which are the reverse items numbered 5, 9, 13, 17, and 19). The content covers subjective feelings of anxiety and various physical symptoms. The investigators asked the patient to fill out this questionnaire again 72 hours after the surgery to assess the changes in anxiety.
72 hours after the surgery
Postoperative depression
Time Frame: 72 hours after the surgery
The patient completed the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EPDS) one day before the surgery. The EPDS consists of 10 items, covering aspects such as mood, anxiety, and self-blame. Scores range from 0 to 9: within the normal range, no special intervention is required; 10-12: borderline range, suggesting a need for follow-up observation; 13-30: screening positive, indicating possible postpartum depression, and further assessment is necessary. The investigators asked the patient to fill out this questionnaire again at the seventy-second hour after the surgery to assess the changes in depression.
72 hours after the surgery
Key time points of the surgery
Time Frame: Perioperative period
  1. Duration of anesthesia （minutes）
  2. Duration of surgery （minutes）
  3. The time of fetal delivery（minutes）
Perioperative period
Intraoperative average blood pressure（mmHg）
Time Frame: Perioperative period
Perioperative period
Intraoperative average heart rate（times per minute）
Time Frame: Perioperative period
Perioperative period
Intraoperative average blood oxygen saturation（%）
Time Frame: Perioperative period
Perioperative period
Intraoperative adverse reactions ( elevated blood pressure, tachycardia, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, etc.)
Time Frame: Perioperative period
Perioperative period
Adverse event
Time Frame: Within 72 hours after the surgery
All kinds of adverse events( nausea, vomiting, headache，etc) occurred in patients were recorded.
Within 72 hours after the surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Tianjin Medical University General Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Guolin Wang, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital

Study record dates

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Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 5, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 11, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB2026-YX-129-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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