Interrogating the Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Constipation in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

Study Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) alters systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related colonic and anorectal physiology by enhancing autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. The study will examine the effects of TEA on slow colonic transit (SCT) and rectal hyposensitivity (RH), to examine whether TEA improves autonomic dysfunction and modulates inflammatory pathways.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 18 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria.

  • - Patients with SSc-constipation from Aim 1 of the study.
  • - Patients with SCT (>20% radiopaque marks left in the colon 5 days (120 hours) after swallowing the Sitzmark capsule or patients with RH (defined in Aim 1) - Patients not yet on therapy for constipation or patients who continue to experience constipation while on stable therapy for one month prior to TEA.
Exclusion Criteria. -Patients with symptoms of both diarrhea and constipation but not predominantly symptoms of constipation.

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT05989763
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

N/A
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Zsuzsanna H McMahan, MD, MHS (M-PI)
Principal Investigator Affiliation The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other, NIH
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Systemic Sclerosis, Constipation, Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder, Autonomic Dysfunction
Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA)

Sham Comparator: Sham-TEA

Interventions

Device: - Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA)

TEA will then be administrated for 1 hour twice daily for a period of 4 weeks

Device: - Sham-TEA

Sham TEA will then be administrated for 1 hour twice daily for a period of 4 weeks

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

Houston, Texas

Status

Recruiting

Address

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Houston, Texas, 77030

Site Contact

Zsuzsanna H McMahan, MD, MHS (M-PI)

[email protected]

713-500-6883