NCT06721572

Role of Home-Based Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation for Treatment of Pain in Subjects With Chronic Pancreatitis

Role of Home-Based Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation for Treatment of Pain in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis (TEA-CuP): A Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Crossover Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 42 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Michigan · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA) is a noninvasive acupuncture method that can be self-administered at home without needles. TEA transmits a weak electrical current using electrodes placed at acupoints and has shown to safely reduce pain in other gastrointestinal conditions. This study will help elucidate if TEA is effective in treating abdominal pain in patients with painful chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Detailed description

Pain in patients with CP is debilitating and impairs quality of life. Despite using medical, endoscopic, or surgical treatments, many patients continue experiencing substantial pain and some are prescribed long-term opioids. This clinical trial aims to assess the analgesic effect of a mild electrical stimulator called TEA. TEA consists of a small, wearable device that can be used at-home while doing daily activities. If effective, this could be an alternative non-pharmacological and non-invasive option to manage pain related to CP. In this study, the investigators will conduct a randomized, sham-controlled, 2x2 crossover trial in patients with painful CP. Subjects will be randomized to receive either active TEA first followed by sham TEA, or sham TEA first followed by active TEA. Other than the application point in the skin, active and sham TEA will be identical. The study will examine the effect of TEA on pain severity (primary outcome), pain interference and overall pain experience (secondary outcomes). The study will be conducted over 12 weeks in 5 periods: run-in (1 week), treatment period 1 (4 weeks), washout (2 weeks), treatment period 2 (4 weeks), and close-out visit (1 week). Subjects will complete online questionnaires about pain and health throughout the duration of the study. There will be a total of 3 study visits that will be conducted at the main Ann Arbor Hospital or virtually. All the study tasks can be completed remotely. The study will recruit patients from a single clinical center and from self-referral from patients with CP in the US. The proposed study will advance our understanding on the role of TEA for non-opioid pain management of CP.

Conditions

• Chronic Pancreatitis
• Pancreatitis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	TEA	Active TEA or sham TEA will be self-administered at home over two daily treatment sessions of 30 minutes each in the morning and evening. Active TEA will be delivered through an active stimulation acupoint that has previously shown to reduce abdominal pain in other patient populations. Sham TEA will be administered at a different point a few cm away from the active site and that has been shown to be ineffective in reducing pain. Other than the location, the anatomical location, application of TEA and sham will be identical. The device will be programmed by the study team to generate fixed frequency, pulse width, and time on/time off during the pulsed stimulation. The subject is only able to change the stimulation output in a range from 0-10 milliampere.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-13
• Primary completion: 2026-02-16
• Completion: 2026-02-16
• First posted: 2024-12-06
• Last updated: 2026-03-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study