Neural Sensitisation and Neuropsychological Alterations in Painful Chronic Pancreatitis

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment: 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): An advanced neuroimaging scan performed on all participants to assess resting-state functional connectivity within key pain-processing networks.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS): A neuroimaging technique performed on all participants to quantify brain metabolites in key brain regions.

Blood-Based Metabolite Profiling: Blood samples will be collected from all participants to quantify metabolomic signatures and to identify potential correlates with pain phenotypes in chronic pancreatitis.

Study summary

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.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Role of Central Sensitization — 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

Trial sites (1)