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NCT Number: NCT06356025

Botulinum Toxin Injection in the UES for R-CPD

The aim of this study is to assess the effect of botulinum toxin injection into the upper esophageal sphincter in a double blind, placebo controlled study. Investigators want to assess the effect on symptoms short term (1-20 weeks after BT injection), and long term (48 weeks after BT injection).

This is a prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Questionnaires assessing symptoms will be filled out on several occasions. At 20 weeks, a reassessment of symptoms will be done, without unblinding patients or investigator. Failures (to BT or placebo, defined as no clinical improvement or improvement less than 50%) will get the chance to receive a second procedure with active treatment (BT) in open label.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

AZ Delta

Roeselare, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Participants eligible for inclusion in this Trial must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Voluntary written informed consent of the participant or their legally authorized representative has been obtained prior to any screening procedures
  • Use of highly effective methods of birth control; defined as those that, alone or in combination, result in low failure rate (i.e., less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly; such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs, true sexual abstinence (i.e. refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period of risk associated with the Trial treatment(s)) or commitment to a vasectomised partner.
  • Between 18 and 65 years old
  • Inability to belch, which is bothersome enough to consider treatment*, present for at least 6 months prior to inclusion, and in fulfillment of both categories a and b below:,
  • presence of associated gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal bloating and discomfort/nausea, flatulence, gurgling noises from the chest or lower neck.
  • Absence of other pharyngeal and esophageal pathologies, determined on the basis of history taking and diagnostic tests.
  • Typical findings on high resolution impedance manometry with belch provocation test (10). These typical findings include: No relaxation upon gastroesophageal gas reflux, no air clearance via the UES but instead an increased air presence time include air entrapment and oscillations.
  • Bothersome = severe enough to impact on usual activities, according to the Rome IV diagnostic criteria (11, 12).

Participants eligible for this Trial must not meet any of the following criteria:

  • Participant has a history of surgery in the upper GI tract, that might interfere with the belch reflex (such as anti-reflux surgery)
  • Any disorder, which in the Investigator's opinion might jeopardise the participant's safety or compliance with the protocol
  • Any prior or concomitant treatment(s) that might jeopardise the participant's safety or that would compromise the integrity of the Trial, to be decided at the discretion of the investigator.
  • Female who is pregnant, breast-feeding or intends to become pregnant or is of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) and not using an adequate, highly effective contraceptive
  • Participation in another interventional Trial with an investigational medicinal product (IMP) or device
  • >65 years old; < 18 years of age
  • Known hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin type A or to human albumin or sodium chloride
  • Presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s).

Treatment and study plan

Botulinum Toxin Type A

Drug

Botulinum toxin type A 75U dissolved in 3mL physiological serum injection in the upper esophageal sphincter

Sodium Chloride 0.9% Inj

Drug

Placebo: physiological serum 3mL injection in the upper esophageal sphincter

Primary outcomes

  1. Response to Botox versus placebo, 12 weeks after treatment.

    Time frame: week 12

    This questionnaire is a treatment effect measure specific for inability to belch, where the change in symptoms from baseline is assessed, on a scale from 0% to 100%. 100% means complete resolution of symptoms, 0% means no improvement.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Response to botox versus placebo 48 weeks after treatment.

    Time frame: 48 weeks

    We will use the questionnaire of 'Difficulties with belching', and response is defined as at least a 50% improvement on question 6A 'To what extent have the symptoms of 'difficulty burping air' been reduced after treatment?'.

  2. Safety: count of each type of (serious) adverse events in each group

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Safety: assessed by the number and type of (serious) adverse events that occurred in each group by week 48

  3. Safety on swallowing: with SSQ

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    assessed by the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire 1 week and 4 weeks after the procedure.

Other outcomes

  1. HRQOL

    Time frame: 1 to 48 weeks

    HRQOL using EQ-5D VAS score short-term (1, 4,12 weeks) and long-term (20 - 48 weeks after the procedure).

  2. Patients experience and satisfaction of the treatment using overall treatment effect

    Time frame: 1-48 weeks

    Patients experience and satisfaction of the treatment based on OTE short-term (1, 4, 12 weeks after the procedure), and long-term (20 - 48 weeks after the procedure) OTE is an outcome measure with 9 choices: going from -4: it has become insupportable, in the middle 0: unchanged, and at the end +4: the symptoms have completely resolved.

  3. Patients experience and satisfaction of the treatment using overall symptom severity

    Time frame: 1-48 weeks

    Patients experience and satisfaction of the treatment based on OSS short-term (1, 4, 12 weeks after the procedure), and long-term (20 - 48 weeks after the procedure)

  4. Evolution of associated abdominal bloating using a VAS score for symptom severity

    Time frame: 1-48 weeks

    Evolution of associated abdominal bloating short-term (1, 4, 12 weeks) and long-term (20 - 48 weeks after the procedure).

  5. Evolution of associated abdominal/thoracic pain using a VAS score for symptom severity

    Time frame: 1-48 weeks

    Evolution of associated abdominal/thoracic pain short-term (1, 4, 12 weeks) and long-term (20 - 48 weeks after the procedure).

  6. Evolution of associated flatulence using a VAS score for symptom severity

    Time frame: 1-48 weeks

    Evolution of associated flatulence short-term (1, 4, 12 weeks) and long-term (20 - 48 weeks after the procedure).

  7. Evolution of associated gurgling noises using a VAS score for symptom severity

    Time frame: 1-48 weeks

    Evolution of associated gurgling noises short-term (1, 4, 12 weeks) and long-term (20 - 48 weeks after the procedure).

  8. Safety during follow-up, with SSQ at week 12, 20 and 48.

    Time frame: 12-48 weeks

    Safety during follow-up, with SSQ at week 12, 20 and 48.

  9. Change in objective measurement of UES pressure upon belching during high resolution impedance manometry

    Time frame: 20 weeks

    Change in objective measurements after, versus before BT injeciton using high resolution impedance manometry at week 20, and comparing with baseline.

  10. Change in objective measurement of oscillatory movement of air during high resolution impedance manometry

    Time frame: 20 weeks

    Change in objective measurements after, versus before BT injeciton using high resolution impedance manometry at week 20, and comparing with baseline.

  11. Improvement of symptoms not reaching primary outcome

    Time frame: 48 weeks

    Improvement in symptoms after Botox versus placebo, 12 and 48 weeks after treatment. We will use the questionnaire of 'Difficulties with belching', using a cut-off for improvement of 30% on question 6A 'To what extent have the symptoms of 'difficulty burping air' been reduced after treatment?'.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

AZ Delta

Other

Collaborators

  • KU Leuven

Registry information

Official study title

Botulinum Toxin Injection in the Upper Esophageal Sphincter for Retrograde-cricopharyngeus Dysfunction: a Prospective, Double Blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Acronym: BOTUS R-CPD

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2027
First posted
Apr 10, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 8, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.