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ARMA (Antireflux Mucosa Ablation) in Patients With Chronic Refractory Reflux Disease

ARMA (Antireflux Mucosa Ablation) in Patients With Chronic Refractory Reflux Disease

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05425771
Acronym
ARMA
Enrollment
15
Registered
2022-06-21
Start date
2022-07-14
Completion date
2023-05-31
Last updated
2022-07-14

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

Conditions

Gastro-esophageal Reflux, Reflux, Gastroesophageal

Keywords

Reflux disease, Endoscopic therapy

Brief summary

Pilot study of the possible clinical response to anti reflux mucosal ablation in patients with chronic refractory reflux disease

Detailed description

Prospective, non-controlled, monocentric pilot study in patients with therapy-refractory reflux symptoms under proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy or intolerance of the necessary therapy or rapid recurrence of the symptoms with tapering therapy. The symptoms must have existed for \>6 months. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) must be diagnosed before inclusion in the study. This is the case if either erosive reflux esophagitis according to Los Angeles classification grades A-D is present or non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) has been confirmed by a 24-hour pH measurement/impedance measurement. The measurement must show either an increased number of reflux events or a prolonged time under reflux. In addition, there must be a high correlation between symptoms and reflux events when reporting symptom events. The GERD-HRQL score is queried for the clinical quantification of symptoms. An esophageal motility disorder, especially achalasia or relevant hypomotility must be ruled out in an high resolution esophageal manometry. A relevant gastric emptying disorder is ruled out using a C13 octanoate breath test. Patients with a Hill IV axial hernia, a paraesophageal hernia, or Barrett's esophagus are not included. Pregnancy must be ruled out in women of childbearing age. The ARMA procedure is explained to the patient in detail with the expected benefits and risks in oral and written form. In addition, alternative treatments such as surgical fundoplication are discussed. In the ARMA procedure, a gastroscopy is performed under sedation with propofol. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is performed in inversion at the gastroesophageal junction in a crescent or horseshoe shape over a width of 1.5 - 2 cm, as described in the original publication. The intended destruction of the uppermost layer of the gastroesophageal junction is intended to induce an inflammatory reaction with subsequent shrinkage of the corresponding tissue section. This leads to a tightening of the gastroesophageal junction with subsequent improved tightness, so that reflux events occur less frequently. Patients will be monitored in hospital for 48 hours. The existing drug therapy is continued for 4 weeks and then tapered off. Endoscopic and clinical follow-up checks take place after 2 and 6 months using gastroscopy and GERD-HRQL score.

Interventions

PROCEDUREAnti Reflux Mucosa Ablation

Mucosa ablation with Argon plasma coagulation performed in inversion at the gastroesophageal junction in a crescent or horseshoe shape over a width of 1.5 - 2 cm in patients with refractory reflux symptoms

Sponsors

Klinikum Garmisch-Patenkirchen
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Pilot study of mucosal ablation for therapy refractory reflux disease

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* typical reflux symptoms more than 2x per week during PPI therapy more than 6 month * proof of gastro-esophageal reflux in pH metry oder pH/Impedance measurement

Exclusion criteria

* age \< 18 y * primary motility disorder of the esophagus * hiatal hernia \> 3 cm * Hill classification \> III * pregnancy * coagulation disorder * mandatory intake of oral anticoagulation drugs

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
change of GERD-HRQLBefore and after 2 and 6 MonthThe Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) is a standardized questionaire and a quantitative method of measuring symptom severity in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The results are from minimal 0 points up to 50 points. The higher the points, the greater the complaints.
Rate of major complicationsday 1Recording of all major complication which require hospitalization

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Technical success nominal scaleDay 1In this case, the abortion of the procedure or the subjective assessment of the examiner apply immediately after the end of the procedure. The examiner evaluates the complete technical success as successful or unsuccessful
change of DeMeester ScoreBefore and after 2 and 6 MonthThe DeMeester score is a scoring system at pH/Impendence measurement that quantifies esophageal acid exposure time in long-term pH monitoring. A DeMeester score of ≤ 14.72 is considered physiological. The score includes the following values: Percentage of time with esophageal pH \< 4 of total measurement time Percentage of time with pH \< 4 during the waking phase (upright position) Percentage of time with pH \< 4 during the sleep phase (lying position) Total number of reflux episodes during the measurement time Number of reflux episodes lasting \> 5 min Duration of the longest reflux episode
change of reflux eventsBefore and after 2 and 6 MonthMeasurement of the number of events in the pH/Impendence measurement. A count \<74 in 24 hours is considered normal.

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

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