Endotherapy and/or Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy Versus Conservative Treatment in Painless Chronic Pancreatitis

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Procedure, Drug, Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is caused by factors such as genetics and the environment, leading to the destruction of pancreatic tissue, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and progressive fibrosis of the pancreas. As the disease progresses, pancreatic tissue is damaged, resulting in impaired endocrine and exocrine functions, manifesting as symptoms like steatorrhea and diabetes. Pain associated with chronic pancreatitis (PACP) is the most common symptom in CP patients. Approximately 75% of patients initially present with abdominal pain, and previous studies have shown that PACP can occur in 85-97% of CP patients. However, there is a type of pancreatitis where patients do not experience abdominal pain and typically seek medical attention due to routine check-ups or symptoms of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine dysfunction; this particular type of pancreatitis is known as painless CP. A meta-analysis showed that painless CP accounts for about 12% of all CP patients. In patients with CP, continuous pancreatic damage leads to the destruction of pancreatic tissue, subsequently causing insufficiency in both exocrine and endocrine functions. Painless does not equate to harmless; patients with painless CP often present with severe symptoms of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine dysfunction at the time of diagnosis. These findings underscore the importance of early identification and active management of patients with painless CP. Whether active endoscopic intervention is needed for painless CP remains a matter of debate. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) suggests endoscopic therapy and/or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) as the first-line therapy for painful uncomplicated chronic pancreatitis (CP) with an obstructed main pancreatic duct (MPD) in the head/ body of the pancreas; however, due to the unclear potential benefits (preservation of pancreatic function) of endoscopic and/or ESWL treatment for painless CP, it is not recommended for patients without pain, although the evidence is of low quality. Although there is currently no consensus on whether endoscopic treatment can protect the pancreatic function of patients with painless chronic pancreatitis, preliminary evidence suggests that endoscopic treatment may have a positive impact on pancreatic atrophy and dysfunction in patients with painless CP. In a retrospective study by Ikeura et al., which included 268 patients with CP and painless pancreatic duct stones, it was found that endoscopic treatment and complete clearance of stones in patients with painless pancreatic duct stones helped maintain the volume of the pancreatic parenchyma. Although preliminary research suggests that endoscopic treatment may protect pancreatic function in patients with painless CP, it could also trigger pain. A study by Ikeura et al. found that painless CP patients who underwent endoscopic treatment but did not have complete clearance of pancreatic duct stones were at a significantly higher risk of developing pain. This indicates that incomplete endoscopic treatment might lead patients from a painless state to one of pain. However, a study by Amodio et al. suggests that the likelihood of painless CP patients experiencing pain in the short term is low, implying that conservative treatment might be more appropriate. Current research on the clinical characteristics of painless CP and its response to treatment is relatively limited, necessitating further clinical studies to clarify the impact of ERCP and/or ESWL on these patients. We plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial to assess whether these minimally invasive interventions can improve clinical outcomes for patients with painless CP

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 85
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Adults aged 18-85 years.

• Diagnosed with painless chronic pancreatitis.

• No prior history of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment.

Locations
Other Locations
China
Changhai Hospital
RECRUITING
Shanghai
Contact Information
Primary
Zhao-Shen Li
zhaoshen-li@hotmail.com
+8613901960921
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-07-21
Estimated Completion Date: 2027-08-01
Participants
Target number of participants: 126
Treatments
Experimental: Endotherapy and/or Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy Group
Participants in this arm will undergo a comprehensive treatment approach that includes lifestyle modifications, pharmacological interventions, and procedural therapies such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and/or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL).
Active_comparator: Conservative Treatment Group
This arm includes participants who will receive standard conservative management for painless chronic pancreatitis. The treatment regimen comprises lifestyle modification and medications to manage symptoms of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency, such as pancreatic enzyme supplements and medications for diabetes management (e.g., oral hypoglycemics or insulin).
Sponsors
Leads: Changhai Hospital

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov