NCT03434392

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.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
500

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
2mo left

Started Oct 2017

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress98%
Oct 2017Jun 2026

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 24, 2017

Completed
10 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 3, 2017

Completed
3 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 15, 2018

Completed
8.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 30, 2026

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 30, 2026

Last Updated

December 18, 2025

Status Verified

December 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

8.7 years

First QC Date

November 3, 2017

Last Update Submit

December 16, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Chronic PainChronic PancreatitisSphincter of Oddi DysfunctionRecurrent Acute PancreatitisChronic Abdominal PainFunctional Dyspepsia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Pain Pattern Assessment as assessed by the combination of Temporal Summation score, Sensitization score, and Conditioned Pain Modulation score

    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.

    One-time baseline testing

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in Mean Pain score

    90 days

Study Arms (4)

Healthy Controls

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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.

Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 1Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 2Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 3

Suspected CP

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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.

Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 1Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 2Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 3

Definite CP

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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.

Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 1Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 2Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 3

Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or Functional Dyspepsia

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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.

Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 1Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 2Diagnostic Test: Quantitative Sensory Test 3

Interventions

Subject will give pain rating (on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 0-10) of single as well as multiple stimulation with round-tip non-invasive pin-prick device. Difference is recorded as Temporal Summation Score.

Also known as: Temporal Summation
Definite CPHealthy ControlsSphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or Functional DyspepsiaSuspected CP

Subject will state when they first detect pain and pain detection threshold in response to pressure administration with pressure algometer. Pressure threshold recorded in kilopascals(kP). Stimulation will be repeated in pancreatic and control dermatomes. Subject will then state pain tolerance threshold at same locations. Sensitization will be characterized by ratio of pancreatic vs. control dermatome scores.

Also known as: Segmental v Systemic Sensitization
Definite CPHealthy ControlsSphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or Functional DyspepsiaSuspected CP

Subject will apply dominant hand to ice-chilled water bath (36F) for up to 2 minutes. Pain score (VAS 0-10) will be assessed each 10 seconds. Pain tolerance threshold (in kP) will be assessed with algometer on non-dominant thigh before and after water bath to determine change in threshold. Difference in pain tolerance recorded as Conditioned Pain Modulation Score.

Also known as: Conditioned Pain Modulation
Definite CPHealthy ControlsSphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or Functional DyspepsiaSuspected CP

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • +6 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • +2 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

RECRUITING

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (4)

  • Phillips AE, Faghih M, Singh VK, Bick B, Yadav D, Drewes AM, Olesen SS. Widespread Hyperalgesia by Pancreatic Quantitative Sensory Testing Is Associated With Reduced Pain Response in Chronic Pancreatitis. Pancreas. 2023 Apr 1;52(4):e257-e258. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000002247. Epub 2023 Nov 13. No abstract available.

  • Phillips AE, Faghih M, Singh VK, Olesen SS, Kuhlmann L, Novovic S, Bick B, Hart PA, Ramsey ML, Talukdar R, Garg PK, Yadav D, Drewes AM; Pancreatic Quantitative Sensory Testing (P-QST) Consortium. Rationale for and Development of the Pancreatic Quantitative Sensory Testing Consortium to Study Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis. Pancreas. 2021 Oct 1;50(9):1298-1304. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000001912.

  • Olesen SS, Phillips AE, Faghih M, Kuhlmann L, Steinkohl E, Frokjaer JB, Bick BL, Ramsey ML, Hart PA, Garg PK, Singh VK, Yadav D, Drewes AM; Pancreatic Quantitative Sensory Testing (P-QST) Consortium. Overlap and cumulative effects of pancreatic duct obstruction, abnormal pain processing and psychological distress on patient-reported outcomes in chronic pancreatitis. Gut. 2022 Dec;71(12):2518-2525. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325855. Epub 2021 Oct 21.

  • Phillips AE, Faghih M, Kuhlmann L, Larsen IM, Drewes AM, Singh VK, Yadav D, Olesen SS; Pancreatic Quantitative Sensory Testing (P-QST) Consortium. A clinically feasible method for the assessment and characterization of pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatology. 2020 Jan;20(1):25-34. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2019.11.007. Epub 2019 Nov 20.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pancreatitis, ChronicChronic PainSphincter of Oddi DysfunctionPancreatitis

Interventions

Postsynaptic Potential Summation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pancreatic DiseasesDigestive System DiseasesChronic DiseaseDisease AttributesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsPainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsBiliary DyskinesiaCommon Bile Duct DiseasesBile Duct DiseasesBiliary Tract Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Synaptic TransmissionSignal TransductionBiochemical PhenomenaChemical PhenomenaSynaptic PotentialsMembrane PotentialsCell Physiological PhenomenaElectrophysiological PhenomenaPhysiological PhenomenaNervous System Physiological PhenomenaMusculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

  • Anna Evans-Phillips, MD

    University of Pittsburgh

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Anna Evans-Phillips, MD

CONTACT

Apsara Mishra

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Participants are assigned to one of four groups in parallel for the duration of the study based on prior clinical history.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor of Medicine

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 3, 2017

First Posted

February 15, 2018

Study Start

October 24, 2017

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Last Updated

December 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations