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TaVNS Improves the Symptoms of Patients With Moderate to Severe CP/CPPS

Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Moderate to Severe Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (TASC-P Trial): a Randomized, Sham Controlled Trial.

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06287970
Enrollment
68
Registered
2024-03-01
Start date
2024-03-15
Completion date
2027-02-18
Last updated
2025-11-28

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

Conditions

Chronic Prostatitis

Brief summary

This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for moderate to severe chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). This study is a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. A total of 68 patients with CP/CPPS will be recruited. After baseline assessment, the patients will be randomized into taVNS group (n = 34) and sham-taVNS group (n = 34). The intervention of two group will last for 4 weeks with a 8-week follow-up period after the treatment. The National Institutes of Health chronic Prostatitis Symptom Score index (NIH-CPSI), International Prostate Symptom Score Scale (IPSS), European quality of Life-5 Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D), self-rating anxiety Scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) will be assessed. The adverse events during the whole study will be recorded detailedly.

Interventions

DEVICETranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

In the experimental group, bilateral auricular point Xin (CO15) and auricular point Shen (CO10) will be stimulated, on where the vagus nerves distributed.

In the control group, bilateral earlobes will be stimulated with no vagus nerve distribution.

Sponsors

Jiani Wu
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Consistent with the diagnostic criteria of CP/CPPS of EAU or CAU, the clinical manifestations were recurrent and persistent prostate pain accompanied by abnormal urination and psychiatric symptoms, without infection or other obvious pathological conditions. The pain symptoms were mainly manifested as pain in the surrounding tissues centered on the prostate, and pain, swelling or discomfort in the scrotum, testis, lower abdomen, perineum, lumbosacral area, and medial thigh. Abnormal urination was characterized by frequent urination, urgent urination, urination pain, urethral burning, residual urination or white discharge from the urethra at the end of urination or defecation in the morning. The neuropsychiatric symptoms included dizziness and tinnitus, insomnia and dreams, anxiety and depression, and even impotence, premature ejaculation, and spermatorrhea. Symptoms lasting more than 3 months in the last six months * 18 ≤ Age ≤ 50 years old * NIH-CPSI ≥15 (patients with moderate to severe CP/CPPS) * Signed informed consent and voluntarily participated in the trial

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with other diseases that cause urinary symptoms were excluded: Such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, testicular and epididymal and spermatic cord diseases, overactive bladder, neurogenic bladder, interstitial cystitis, glandular cystitis, sexually transmitted diseases, bladder tumors such as carcinoma in situ, prostate cancer, urinary male reproductive system tuberculosis, anorectal diseases, lumbar diseases, central and peripheral neuropathy, etc * Patients with severe diseases of the heart, liver, kidney, hematopoietic system and poor nutritional status * Patients with severe mental and emotional disorders, who were unable to cooperate with the study * Patients who have been treated with CP/CPPS regimen in the past 4 weeks

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change from baseline in National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) total score at week 4Baseline, week 4The NIH-CPSI scale scores range from 0 to 43, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The NIH-CPSI total score will be recorded once a week during the treatment period.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of responders at week 4, 8 and 12Baseline, week 4, 8 and 12Responder is defined as the patient with a decrease of ≥6 points in the NIH-CPSI total score compared with baseline. The proportion of responders will be calculated for each evaluation time point.
The change from baseline in EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) at week 4, 8 and 12Baseline, week 4, 8 and 12The EQ-5D is mainly composed of two parts, the Descriptive System and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) . The description system of EQ-5D can generate a five-digit health status, which can be intuitively reflected in the five health dimensions. This health status can be converted into a single summary number (utility index value) according to the characteristics of the general population in a country/region, which can be used to reflect the health status. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) contains a vertical scale ranging from 0 to 100 to record the self-rated health status of the participants. The Visual Analogue Scale provides a quantitative description of respondents' perceptions of their overall health. The EQ-5D total score will be recorded once a week during the treatment and follow-up period
The change from baseline in Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) at week 4, 8 and 12Baseline, week 4, 8 and 12The standard score of the test result is obtained by summing the scores of the 20 items in the SAS scale, multiplying the resulting result by 1.25 and rounding to integer numbers. The cut-off value of the standard score is 53 points, with 53 to 62 points as mild depression, 63 to 72 points as moderate depression, and more than 73 points as severe depression. The total score of SAS will be recorded once a week during the treatment and follow-up period
The change from baseline in the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) at week 4, 8 and 12Baseline, week 4, 8 and 12The standard score of the test result is obtained by summing the scores of the 20 items in the SDS scale, multiplying the resulting result by 1.25 and rounding to integer numbers. The cut-off value of the standard score is 53 points, with 53 to 62 points as mild depression, 63 to 72 points as moderate depression, and more than 73 points as severe depression. The total score of SDS will be recorded once a week during the treatment and follow-up period
Change from baseline in National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) total score at week 8 and week 12Baseline, week 8 and 12The NIH-CPSI scale scores range from 0 to 43, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The NIH-CPSI total score will be recorded once a week during the treatment and follow-up period
The changes from baseline of NIH-CPSI pain score, urinary score and quality of life score, respectively at week 4, 8 and 12Baseline, week 4, 8 and 12The NIH-CPSI scores range from 0 to 43. The NIH-CPSI has three subscores: pain scores , urinary scores , and quality of life scores. The subscore of pain ranged from 0 to 21. The subscores of urination symptoms ranged from 0 to 10. The subscore of the effect of symptoms on quality of life ranges from 0 to 12. The higher the score, the more severe the symptoms. These subitem scores are specific to the symptoms of CP/CPPS and do not require other separate outcome measures. Each part of the NIH-CPSI score will be recorded weekly during the treatment and follow-up periods
The change from baseline in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) score at week 4, 8 and 12Baseline, week 4, 8 and 12The IPSS scale scores range from 0 to 35, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. The total IPSS score will be recorded once a week during the treatment and follow-up period

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse EventsThe 4-week treatment periodTreatment-related adverse events will be recorded and evaluated between two groups
Evaluation of patient expectationsBaseline before the randomizationPatients will be asked before the randomization: ① Do you think transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation will be effective? ② Do you think transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation will help improve your symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic floor pain syndrome?
Blinding Evaluationat the end of week 4Let the patient choose whether or not he or she has received the taVNS treatment after the treatment

Countries

China

Contacts

Primary ContactJiani Wu
jiani_wu@aliyun.com+8613426116653

Outcome results

None listed

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