Esophageal Sensitivity Clinical Trial
Official title:
The Effect of Acute Tryptophan Depletion (ATD) on Esophageal Sensitivity in Healthy Volunteers: a Randomized, Single-blind, Placebo-controlled Study
Esophageal hypersensitivity is considered an important pathophysiological mechanism in
patients suffering form non-erosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Serotonin (5-HT) is
predominantly found in the central nervous system and in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract.
5-HT plays a major role in the regulation of GI secretion, motility and sensitivity, and has
been associated with emotion regulation. Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) temporarily
reduces the availability of tryptophan (TRP), thereby decreasing central and peripheral 5-HT
synthesis. From previous studies, ATD is known to affect GI physiology and enhance visceral
pain perception in the colon. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ATD on
esophageal sensitivity in healthy volunteers (HV).
Esophageal multimodal sensitivity was assessed after intragastric infusion of an amino-acid
mixture (AA-mix) containing 15 AAs with TRP (control condition) or without TRP (ATD
condition). After an incubation period of 5 hours, a probe with a polyurethane bag was
positioned in the distal esophagus. Thermal (recirculating a heated saline solution through
the bag), mechanical (increasing bag volume), electrical (2 stimulation electrodes) and
chemical sensitivity (modified Bernstein) were tested and at 3 time points blood samples
were collected for biochemical analysis. General mood was assessed by the Positive and
Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
questionnaires.
1. INTRODUCTION Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), defined as the presence of
symptoms or lesions that can be attributed to reflux of gastric contents into the
esophagus, is an increasingly prevalent condition in Western societies. Typical reflux
symptoms are heartburn and regurgitation, but GERD can manifest itself through a
variety of esophageal and extra-esophageal (atypical) symptoms (e.g. chronic cough).
In humans, pain is a multimodal experience composed of sensory, physiological and
psychological aspects. In order to mimic the clinical situation, experimental models
should be based on multimodal testing regimens in which different receptors and central
nervous system mechanisms are activated.
Advances in esophageal sensory stimulation have established that both typical and
atypical symptoms may not only arise from acid reflux, but also from reflux events with
less acidic pH (pH 4-7). In GERD patients with persisting symptoms in spite of proton
pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment (refractory GERD), ongoing weakly acidic reflux is well
established as the main underlying factor.
The basis for symptom generation during weakly-acidic reflux events remains to be
elucidated, but acid sensitivity in the pH range 4-7, mechanical distention (enhanced
by air in the refluxate), sensitivity to other chemical factors (e.g. bile) and
esophageal hypersensitivity to physiological levels of reflux have all been proposed.
The investigators speculate that visceral hypersensitivity plays an important role in
esophageal symptom perception. This is suggested by the reflux parameters that are
usual within the physiological number during PPI therapy. Also, previous studies
demonstrated that refractory GERD patients on PPI therapy have increased visceral
hypersensitivity for thermal, chemical and mechanical esophageal stimulation compared
to healthy subjects.
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a major neurotransmitter predominantly found
in the central nervous system and in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract (mucosal
enterochromaffin cells). 5-HT is derived from tryptophan and plays a pivotal role in
the regulation of GI secretion, motility and has long been associated with emotion
regulation and psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and phobia.
Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD), which temporarily reduces the availability of the
essential amino acid tryptophan (TRP), decreases 5-HT synthesis and is a validated
technique to acutely lower central and peripheral 5-HT concentrations. This is
accomplished by administration of an amino acid mixture lacking TRP.
ATD is widely used in psychiatric research to investigate the role of central 5-HT in
affective disorders but further research demonstrated that ATD also affects GI
physiology by delaying gastric emptying and enhancing visceral pain perception during
rectal balloon distention. Furthermore, ATD has been shown to alter gastric
postprandial motor function and distension-induced nausea. These findings establish
involvement of 5-HT in the control of gastric accommodation and sensitivity.
2. RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Multiple studies show that 5-HT is an important player in the
brain-gut axis, but its exact role is currently not clear. It was previously shown that
acute administration of citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI),
significantly lowers chemical and mechanical sensitivity in hypersensitive healthy
volunteers. Buspirone, a partial 5-HT1A-receptor agonist, is able to modify esophageal
motility. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of acute tryptophan
depletion (ATD) on esophageal sensitivity in a group of healthy volunteers and to
evaluate its role in symptom perception.
3. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY All participants will receive and sign the informed
consent before initiation of the study. Esophageal sensitivity will be tested by
multimodal stimulation on two sessions (after placebo amino acid solution and after
ATD), with an interval of at least one week.
4. MATERIALS AND METHODS Studies will be performed using a multimodal esophageal
stimulation probe which allows thermal, mechanical, electrical and chemical
stimulations of the esophagus.
During each stimulation, subjects will be instructed to record perception of symptoms using
an electronic Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) system. This device allows the subject to scale
perception and pain on a scale from 0 to 10.
First perception (VAS=1), pain perception threshold (VAS=5) and pain tolerance threshold
(VAS=7) will be recorded. All types of esophageal stimulations will be immediately
terminated when the pain tolerance threshold is reached. At the time when the pain tolerance
threshold is reached (VAS=7), the subjects will be asked to draw the referred pain area, to
identify location and referral area of the pain.
Thermal stimulation will be performed by re-circulating a saline solution (NaCl 0.09%),
heated by a water bath, through the balloon mounted on the probe. Stimulation temperature
will be steadily increased by increasing the flow rate from the water bath to the balloon.
Flow rate will be controlled by a computer operated pump. The volume in the balloon will be
kept constant at 5ml to avoid mechanical stimulation of the esophagus. A temperature sensor
present in the balloon will continuously monitor the stimulation temperature, which will be
displayed online on a computer display throughout the study.
Mechanical stimulation will be performed by distention of the balloon mounted on the probe.
The flow of saline (NaCl 0.09%) into the balloon, inducing the distention, is regulated by a
computer controlled pump. The volume in the balloon is displayed online on the computer
screen throughout the stimulation. Mechanical stimulations will be performed with water of
37°C, to avoid thermal stimulation of the esophagus.
Mechanical stimulation will be preceded by a preconditioning period during which the balloon
will be distended until the pain perception threshold (VAS=5) is reached. This
preconditioning period is used to precondition the esophageal tissue and to allow the
subject to get used to the feeling of mechanical distention.
Electrical stimulation will be performed by 2 stimulation electrodes mounted on proximal to
the balloon. Electrical block pulses will be given using a standard electrical stimulator.
Single burst pulses will be given with duration of 1ms at 200Hz.The amplitude of the pulses
will steadily increase, with steps of 0.5mA and an interval of 15 seconds. For safety, the
maximum intensity is limited to 50 mA. ECG monitoring will be performed as a safety measure
during the electrical stimulations of the esophagus.
Chemical stimulation will be performed in the distal esophagus by infusing an acidic
solution (HCl 0.1N) in the esophagus. Infusion rate is controlled by a peristaltic infusion
pump with a flow rate of 2ml/min. The stimulation will last for a maximum of 30 minutes.
Acute tryptophan depletion
The effect of ATD on esophageal sensitivity will be studied. The amino acid mixture will be
prepared according to a protocol previously used by the investigators. All substrates are
commercially available with an isotopic and chemical purity of minimal 99%. The identity of
the products will be confirmed using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS,
GC-column: AT5-MS 30m x 0.25 mm iternal diameter; 0.25µm film (Grace)). The amino acid
mixture consists of 15 amino acids, (4.1g L-alanine, 2.4g glycine, 2.4g L-histidine, 6.0g
L-isoleucine, 10.1g L-leucine, 6.7g L-lysine, 4.3g L-phenylalanine, 9.2g L-proline, 5.2g
L-serine, 4.3g L-threonine, 5.2g L-tyrosine, 6.7g L-valine, 3.7g L-argine, 2.0g L-cysteine,
3.0g L-methionine and 3.0g L-trypyophan). The TRP-deficient amino acid mixture consists of
the same 15 amino acids but lacking tryptophan.
The amino acid mixture will be administered via a nasogastric probe to avoid nausea due to
the unpleasant taste and smell of the mixture. During placebo sessions, a control amino acid
mixture is used, containing the same amino acids enriched with TRP in order to prevent a
decrease in TRP levels. Over time, each participant will receive placebo or ATD in the first
session in a random sequence. In the second session, the subject will receive the other
product that he/she didn't receive the first time. Because the amino acid mixture will
influence the levels of 5-HT of the HV we will first exert the Mini International
Neuropsychiatric Interview (dutch, version 5.0.0, DSM-IV) during the recruitment of the
volunteers to evaluate their psychiatric condition.
STUDY OUTLINE After an overnight fast subjects will come to the endoscopy unit of the UZ
Gasthuisberg, where the study will be performed. Two sessions will be scheduled for every
subject: one placebo and one ATD session, with at least one week interval between each of
the sessions. Sessions will run in a single-blind way, the order of placebo and ATD will be
randomized.
Since maximal TRP depletion is obtained approximately 5 hours after intake of the amino acid
mixture, the amino acid will be administered through nasogastric infusion 5 hours prior to
the actual start of the esophageal stimulations.
During the time between administration of the amino acid mixture and the actual start of
esophageal stimulations, the subjects will be asked to watch standardized movies with a
neutral emotional content. Five hours after the administration of the amino acid mixture,
the multimodal stimulation probe will be positioned through the mouth. After the probe is
positioned in the esophagus (10 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter), it will be fixed
to the chin and the subject will remain in in semi-recumbent position for the entire study
period. Before the start of the stimulations, there will be an adaptation period of 15
minutes for the subjects, to get used to the feeling of the probe and to provide
instructions for the correct use of the VAS meter.
VAS scores will be monitored during each type of stimulation. All stimulations will be
immediately stopped at the moment the subject reaches the pain tolerance threshold (VAS=7)
except for the electrical stimulation, where we will stop the stimulation after reaching VAS
5, for safety reasons.
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| Status | Clinical Trial | Phase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed |
NCT00711048 -
Esophageal Hypersensitivity Study in Healthy Volunteers
|
Phase 1 |