The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of D-Cycloserine versus placebo treatment in reducing pain from urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS).
This is a double blinded, randomized control trial (RCT) over a 21 week period that aims to evaluate the treatment efficacy of placebo and D-cycloserine(DCS) in men suffering from UCPPS. The brain functional and anatomical properties associated with treatment response will also be examined. This study will emphasize on comparing, both clinically and by brain imaging, the analgesic response to placebo in both placebo responders and non-responders in addition to a novel treatment (DCS) that targets the brain's pain mechanism for UCPPS. Subjects will be randomized to 2 arms, in a 1:1 ratio, to a DCS medication group (n=20) and a placebo medication group (n=20). Questionnaire outcomes and brain scans will occur prior to initiating treatment and at the end of the treatment period. The actual visits required are minimized, 9 visits spread out over 21 weeks, as pain, quality of life and pill ingestion timings are collected using a secure study website accessible electronically.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
24
Pharmaceutical intervention aimed at altering central nervous system function takes place over 4.5 months with daily use of d-Cycloserine.
Lactose filled capsules to mimic DCS 200mg capsules
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
The visual analog scale (VAS) is a measurement tool used to assess the level of pain experienced by a patient. The scale is a 100 mm horizontal line, with one end representing "no pain" and the other end representing "worst pain imaginable." The patient is asked to mark on the line the point that best represents their level of pain. The minimum score is 0 mm, indicating no pain, while the maximum score is 100 mm, indicating the worst pain imaginable. Higher scores on the VAS indicate a worse outcome, while lower scores indicate a better outcome. The VAS score can be determined by measuring the distance in millimeters from the left end of the line to the point marked by the patient. The range of scores can be used to interpret the level of pain experienced by the patient, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity.
Time frame: 18 weeks after baseline visit
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