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Reletex for Nausea in GERD Patients

Reletex ™ Band as an Adjunct to Standard Therapy in Patients With GERD, Nausea With or Without Vomiting- A Pilot Study

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01582100
Enrollment
2
Registered
2012-04-20
Start date
2012-03-31
Completion date
2013-11-30
Last updated
2014-11-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Nausea

Brief summary

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a highly prevalent condition that is frequently encountered in the health care setting. It affects roughly 40% of Americans monthly and 10% weekly. Of those with GERD, there exists a cohort that experience nausea with or without vomiting that is unresponsive to PPI's and anti-emetics. For these patients, treatment options are limited and these symptoms may substantially alter their quality of life. New and novel therapies emerging include neuromodulation devices that may affect the central pathways leading to these symptoms. Of these, the Reletex band has been tested and proven efficacious in the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, chemotherapy, and surgery, in addition to standard anti-nausea medications. The investigators propose that through a similar mechanism, this device as an adjunct to PPI's and anti-emetics will reduce GERD-associated the nausea with or without vomiting, and by so doing, improve the quality of lives in this patient population.

Interventions

DEVICEReletex

Neuromodulation device worn on the wrist

Sponsors

Northwestern University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Any patient over the age of 18 with clinically diagnosed GERD as evidenced by the GerdQ assessment tool and/or ambulatory pH/ pH- impedance monitoring with a component of nausea with or without vomiting. * Continued symptoms despite a stable dose of FDA approved daily PPI therapy in addition to or without supportive anti-emetics. We will include patients with twice a day PPI dosing, as this is a standard treatment for PPI non-responders. * Previous gastric emptying study performed as part of the standard care work-up of nausea and vomiting. Patients will be recruited regardless of the results and this information will only be used as a potential predictor for symptom response.

Exclusion criteria

* Currently participating in a concurrent clinical trial or completed another trial within past 8 weeks. * Prior gastrointestinal surgery of the esophagus and stomach. * Severe esophagitis (Los Angeles esophagitis Grade C and above), Barrett's metaplasia or eosinophilic esophagitis, achalasia or spastic motor disorder * Unstable medical illness with ongoing diagnostic work-up and treatment. Patients with well-controlled hypertension, diabetes and a remote history of ischemic heart disease that is deemed stable, as judged by the physician-investigator can be included. Current drug or alcohol abuse or dependency. * Current neurologic or cognitive illness or impairment which would make the patient an unsuitable candidate for hypnosis. This will be determined by the investigators before randomization using the Mini Mental Status Exam in patients with suspected impairment. * Severe mental illness, e.g., uncontrolled major depression with suicidal ideation, active psychosis, diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. * Those with nickel, gold, or other metal allergies. * Those with other neuromodulators or implanted electrical devices such as cardiac pacemakers, AICD's, neurostimulators or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation devices (TENS units). * Females who are or might become pregnant during the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of Nausea in Patients With GERD4 weeksnumber of events of nausea with or without vomiting in patients with GERD in 4 weeks

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

two subjects were recruited in clinic. One withdrew after experiencing minor wrist discomfort, the other withdrew after determining the visit schedule undesirable.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
GERD Subjects With Nausea
Subjects who present with GERD along with nausea (with or without vomiting)
2
Total2

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyAdverse Event1
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicGERD Subjects With Nausea
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
2 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 1
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 2

Outcome results

Primary

Incidence of Nausea in Patients With GERD

number of events of nausea with or without vomiting in patients with GERD in 4 weeks

Time frame: 4 weeks

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026