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Neural Sensitisation and Neuropsychological Alterations in Painful Chronic Pancreatitis (NEURO-CP)

13. juli 2026 oppdatert av: Rupjyoti Talukdar, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, India

EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEURAL SENSITISATION AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH PAINFUL CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive inflammatory disease in which chronic abdominal pain affects up to 80% of patients and remains difficult to manage despite treatment of pancreatic pathology. Increasing evidence suggests that persistent pain is not solely driven by peripheral pancreatic abnormalities but also by central sensitization, involving maladaptive changes in central nervous system pain-processing pathways. While altered brain connectivity and neurochemical changes have been demonstrated in other chronic pain disorders, these mechanisms remain poorly characterized in CP.

This study aims to integrate clinical phenotyping with blood-based metabolite profiling and advanced neuroimaging, including resting-state functional MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, to investigate the relationship between central sensitization, brain dysfunction, and neuropsychological alterations. The findings may identify objective neurobiological markers of pain and facilitate the development of mechanism-based, personalized treatment strategies for patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Studieoversikt

Status

Rekruttering

Forhold

Intervensjon / Behandling

Detaljert beskrivelse

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive inflammatory disorder affecting 50-100 per 100,000 adults globally, with 50-80% of patients experiencing debilitating abdominal pain. Despite advances in understanding pancreatic pathology, pain management remains inadequate, leading to high rates of opioid dependence (40%) and reduced quality of life. Traditional models attribute CP pain to peripheral mechanisms (e.g., ductal hypertension, inflammation), yet many patients report persistent pain even after surgical or endoscopic interventions. This paradox highlights the critical role for central mechanisms, including central sensitization.

Central sensitization refers to increased responsiveness of nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) to normal or subthreshold afferent input. In CP, prolonged peripheral inflammation may induce long-lasting changes in the brain's pain processing pathways. Emerging literature in other chronic pain conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome) supports the notion that central sensitization is associated with altered brain connectivity and neurochemical imbalances. However, few studies have explored this in CP, and none have integrated central sensitization with neuropsychological dysfunction, which frequently co-occurs in chronic pain states.

Understanding these CNS mechanisms is essential for redefining pain management in CP. By combining clinical phenotyping, advanced neuroimaging (resting-state fMRI and MR spectroscopy), our study aims to offer a comprehensive picture of how altered brain function contributes to the pain experience. Identifying neurobiological markers of pain will also support the development of mechanism-based therapies and allow better stratification of patients who may benefit from central neuromodulatory interventions.

This prospective observational study will enroll 200 participants (120 with painful CP, 30 with painless CP, and 50 healthy controls) over one year. Participants will undergo clinical assessments, pain detection questionnaires (Izbicki, painDetect), and evaluations for quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 + PAN28), mental state (HADS), and sleep quality (PSQI). The primary assessments include Pancreatic Quantitative Sensory Testing (P-QST) to evaluate sensitization, resting-state fMRI to assess brain connectivity, and MR Spectroscopy to evaluate brain metabolites. Blood samples will be collected from all participants to quantify blood-based metabolites for exploratory biomarker analysis to identify potential correlates with pain phenotypes in chronic pancreatitis.

Studietype

Observasjonsmessig

Registrering (Antatt)

200

Kontakter og plasseringer

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Studiesteder

    • Telangana
      • Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500032
        • Rekruttering
        • Asian Institute of Gastroenterology
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Deltakelseskriterier

Forskere ser etter personer som passer til en bestemt beskrivelse, kalt kvalifikasjonskriterier. Noen eksempler på disse kriteriene er en persons generelle helsetilstand eller tidligere behandlinger.

Kvalifikasjonskriterier

Alder som er kvalifisert for studier

  • Voksen

Tar imot friske frivillige

Ja

Prøvetakingsmetode

Ikke-sannsynlighetsprøve

Studiepopulasjon

Adult participants aged 18-60 years with diagnosed chronic pancreatitis and healthy controls

Beskrivelse

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with CP confirmed by CECT, MRCP, or EUS based on Cambridge or Rosemont criteria.
  • Age 18-60 years.
  • Both genders

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Recent episode of acute pancreatitis or ongoing pain (VAS >5).
  • Pancreatic cancer and other significant comorbidities.
  • Recent use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, high-potency opioids, or neuromodulators.
  • Pregnancy and lactation.
  • Inability to give informed consent.

Studieplan

Denne delen gir detaljer om studieplanen, inkludert hvordan studien er utformet og hva studien måler.

Hvordan er studiet utformet?

Designdetaljer

Kohorter og intervensjoner

Gruppe / Kohort
Intervensjon / Behandling
Painful Chronic Pancreatitis
Patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (CP) confirmed by CECT, MRCP, or EUS (based on Cambridge or Rosemont criteria), who experience significant abdominal pain.
A comprehensive set of clinical and neurological tests to be performed on all participants. This includes validated mental state and sleep evaluations (HADS, PSQI), quality-of-life assessments (EORTC QLQ-C30 + PAN28),and quantitative sensory testing (P-QST)
An advanced neuroimaging scan performed on all participants to assess resting-state functional connectivity within key pain-processing networks.
A neuroimaging technique performed on all participants to quantify brain metabolites in key brain regions.
Blood samples will be collected from all participants to quantify metabolomic signatures and to identify potential correlates with pain phenotypes in chronic pancreatitis.
Painless Chronic Pancreatitis
Patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis who do not experience abdominal pain, serving as a disease control group
A comprehensive set of clinical and neurological tests to be performed on all participants. This includes validated mental state and sleep evaluations (HADS, PSQI), quality-of-life assessments (EORTC QLQ-C30 + PAN28),and quantitative sensory testing (P-QST)
An advanced neuroimaging scan performed on all participants to assess resting-state functional connectivity within key pain-processing networks.
A neuroimaging technique performed on all participants to quantify brain metabolites in key brain regions.
Blood samples will be collected from all participants to quantify metabolomic signatures and to identify potential correlates with pain phenotypes in chronic pancreatitis.
Healthy Controls
Age- and sex-matched individuals without any pancreatic or systemic diseases, serving as a healthy control group
A comprehensive set of clinical and neurological tests to be performed on all participants. This includes validated mental state and sleep evaluations (HADS, PSQI), quality-of-life assessments (EORTC QLQ-C30 + PAN28),and quantitative sensory testing (P-QST)
An advanced neuroimaging scan performed on all participants to assess resting-state functional connectivity within key pain-processing networks.
A neuroimaging technique performed on all participants to quantify brain metabolites in key brain regions.
Blood samples will be collected from all participants to quantify metabolomic signatures and to identify potential correlates with pain phenotypes in chronic pancreatitis.

Hva måler studien?

Primære resultatmål

Resultatmål
Tiltaksbeskrivelse
Tidsramme
Role of Central Sensitization
Tidsramme: At the time of the single study visit
To evaluate the role of central sensitization and its neuropsychological correlates on pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) compared to painless CP and healthy controls
At the time of the single study visit

Sekundære resultatmål

Resultatmål
Tiltaksbeskrivelse
Tidsramme
Brain Connectivity
Tidsramme: At the time of the single study visit.
Quantitative assessment of resting-state functional connectivity within key pain-processing networks (default mode network, salience network, and sensorimotor network) in patients with chronic pancreatitis
At the time of the single study visit.
Brain Metabolites
Tidsramme: At the time of the single study visit.
Quantification of brain metabolites in key brain regions using magnetic resonance spectroscopy
At the time of the single study visit.
Quantification of Blood-Based Metabolites
Tidsramme: At the time of the single study visit.
Quantification of blood-based metabolites to identify potential biomarkers associated with pain phenotypes in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
At the time of the single study visit.

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Sponsor

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Generelle publikasjoner

Studierekorddatoer

Disse datoene sporer fremdriften for innsending av studieposter og sammendragsresultater til ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter og rapporterte resultater gjennomgås av National Library of Medicine (NLM) for å sikre at de oppfyller spesifikke kvalitetskontrollstandarder før de legges ut på det offentlige nettstedet.

Studer hoveddatoer

Studiestart (Faktiske)

6. januar 2026

Primær fullføring (Antatt)

6. november 2026

Studiet fullført (Antatt)

30. november 2026

Datoer for studieregistrering

Først innsendt

13. juli 2026

Først innsendt som oppfylte QC-kriteriene

13. juli 2026

Først lagt ut (Faktiske)

16. juli 2026

Oppdateringer av studieposter

Sist oppdatering lagt ut (Faktiske)

16. juli 2026

Siste oppdatering sendt inn som oppfylte QC-kriteriene

13. juli 2026

Sist bekreftet

1. juli 2026

Mer informasjon

Begreper knyttet til denne studien

Plan for individuelle deltakerdata (IPD)

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NEI

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Nei

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Nei

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