Neural Sensitisation and Neuropsychological Alterations in Painful Chronic Pancreatitis

Sponsor
Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, India
Study ID
NCT07707609
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 60 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment — DIAGNOSTIC_TEST
    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)
  • Resting-State Functional MRI (fMRI) — DIAGNOSTIC_TEST
    An advanced neuroimaging scan performed on all participants to assess resting-state functional connectivity within key pain-processing networks.
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) — DIAGNOSTIC_TEST
    A neuroimaging technique performed on all participants to quantify brain metabolites in key brain regions.
  • Blood-Based Metabolite Profiling — DIAGNOSTIC_TEST
    Blood samples will be collected from all participants to quantify metabolomic signatures and to identify potential correlates with pain phenotypes in chronic pancreatitis.

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

First listed
Jul 16, 2026
Start date
Jan 6, 2026
Status verified
Jul 2026
Primary completion
Nov 6, 2026
Completion
Nov 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
200 participants (estimated)

Arms

  • Arm: 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.
  • Arm: Painless Chronic Pancreatitis
    Patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis who do not experience abdominal pain, serving as a disease control group
  • Arm: Healthy Controls
    Age- and sex-matched individuals without any pancreatic or systemic diseases, serving as a healthy control group

Primary Outcome Measure

Role of Central Sensitization [ Time Frame: At the time of the single study visit ]

Related Studies