Role of Esophageal Mast Cell Activation in Noncardiac Chest Pain (NCCP)
Completed
Conditions studied: Noncardiac Chest Pain (NCCP)
In brief
Chest pain is a common clinical complaint. About 30% patients with chest pain will have a normal coronary angiogram and are described as having noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). It is estimated that 25% of the population complain of chest pain at some time in their lifetime. The pathogenesis of NCCP is unknown. Esophageal hypersensitivity as a result of inflammation is considered to be an important mechanism in the development of this pain sensation. Little is currently known about the interaction between inflammatory mediators and peripheral afferent nerve terminals in the esophagus. The mast cell is one of the most enriched pro-inflammatory cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Activation of the mucosal mast cell releases a variety of mediators into adjacent tissues. We hypothesize that mediators released by mast cells sensitize esophageal nociceptors and induce pain sensation.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00219492
- Run by
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- People needed
- 86
- Starts
- 2005-09-01
- Expected to finish
- 2014-08-21
- Last updated by the study team
- 2017-06-20
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 70. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- NCCP - presence of a history of chest pain with a negative cardiac evaluation, no evidence of gross esophagitis on endoscopy, and lack of any exclusion criteria; Reflux esophagitis - presence of chest pain or heartburn, negative cardiac evaluation, lack of exclusion criteria and presence of esophagitis on endoscopy;
- Controls - lack of history of chest pain, lack of exclusion criteria and lack of esophagitis on endoscopy. It is anticipated that patients being evaluated for heme positive stool or GI bleeding would be included as controls.
You may not qualify if…
- History of ischemic heart disease, history of asthma, significant food allergies, celiac disease, chronic inflammatory conditions (SLE, rheumatoid arthritis), atopic skin disease, varices, coagulopathy, recent drug treatment with steroids.
Where it is running
- Penn State College of Medicine Hershey Medical Center — Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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