Serum CTGF in Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

Association of Serum Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF/CCN2) Levels With Pain and Functional Status in Patients With Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT07785453

Enrollment

Registered

2026-08-25

Start date

2026-08-30

Completion date

2026-11-15

Last updated

2026-08-25

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

Conditions

Plantar Fasciitis

Brief summary

This observational study aims to evaluate serum Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF/CCN2) levels in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis compared with asymptomatic controls. The study will also assess the associations between serum CTGF levels and clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of chronic plantar fasciitis.

Detailed description

This is a single-center observational study including patients with chronic plantar fasciitis and asymptomatic controls. Serum CTGF/CCN2 levels will be evaluated, and their associations with clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics will be assessed.

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Observational model

CASE_CONTROL

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-65 years. * Written informed consent. * For the patient group: chronic plantar heel pain for at least 3 months, pain during the first steps in the morning or after prolonged rest, tenderness over the medial calcaneal tubercle, and clinical and ultrasonographic findings consistent with chronic plantar fasciitis. * For the control group: asymptomatic individuals without a previous diagnosis or clinical and ultrasonographic findings of plantar fasciitis.

Exclusion criteria

* Tarsal tunnel syndrome, calcaneal stress fracture, plantar fascia rupture, Achilles tendinopathy, heel fat pad syndrome, plantar fibromatosis, or other foot conditions causing plantar heel pain. * Diabetes mellitus. * Inflammatory rheumatic diseases or gout. * Chronic kidney or liver disease. * Malignancy. * Active infection or autoimmune disease * Pregnancy. * Previous foot or ankle surgery. * Corticosteroid injection, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), or other interventional treatment to the affected heel within the previous 3 months. * Serious systemic conditions that may affect serum CTGF/CCN2 levels.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Serum CTGF/CCN2 Level	At baseline	Serum Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF/CCN2) levels will be measured in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis and asymptomatic controls.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Pain Severity	At baseline	Pain severity will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and its association with serum CTGF/CCN2 levels will be evaluated.
Foot Function Index	At baseline	Functional status will be assessed using the Foot Function Index (FFI), and its association with serum CTGF/CCN2 levels will be evaluated.
Plantar Fascia Thickness	At baseline	Plantar fascia thickness will be measured by musculoskeletal ultrasonography, and its association with serum CTGF/CCN2 levels will be evaluated.

Outcome results