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HemorrhoidsPhase 2/3NCT05807425

Polidocanol Foam in Hemorrhoidal Disease in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

A Phase 2/3 study testing Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy in people with Hemorrhoids and Liver Cirrhosis, run by Universidade do Porto at 1 site in Portugal.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is a common health problem, affecting up to 38,9% of adult population. HD is also a common finding in up to 36% of cirrhotic patients, as hemorrhoidal plexus is a possible site of portosystemic venous anastomosis. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Hemorrhoids, Liver Cirrhosis
What is being tested?
Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 sitePortugal
Study dates
31 Mar 2023to 31 Dec 2023
Phase
Phase 2/3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adult patients with liver cirrhosis and symptomatic HD grades I to III
  • Refractory to conservative therapy (dietary modification, intestinal transit modifiers, topical and phlebotonics), during a period of 4 weeks

Who cannot join

  • Known allergy to polidocanol
  • Pregnant and lactating women
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Other concomitant symptomatic perianal disease
  • History of office-based or surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal disease in the last 6 months
  • Immunosuppression

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Paulo Salgueiro, MD PhD contact

00351222077500

paulosalgueiro@gmail.com

Portugal1 site, 1 recruiting

  • Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto

    Porto, 4050-000

    Paulo Salgueiro, MD, 00351917209020, paulosalgueiro@gmail.com

    Paulo Salgueiro, MD

    Recruiting

Other trials in Portugal

About this study

Official title: Sclerotherapy With Polidocanol Foam in the Treatment of First, Second and Third-Grade Hemorrhoidal Disease in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis: A Prospective, Cohort Trial

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is a common health problem, affecting up to 38,9% of adult population. HD is also a common finding in up to 36% of cirrhotic patients, as hemorrhoidal plexus is a possible site of portosystemic venous anastomosis. Cirrhotic patients represent a group often neglected in clinical trials so, little is known about the optimal treatment for HD these patients. The objective of this study is to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment of grade I, II and III internal HD with polidocanol foam in cirrhotic patients.

Read the detailed description

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is a common health problem, affecting up to 38,9% of adult population. Despite being a benign condition, associated symptoms like bleeding, pain, prolapsing, swelling, itching, and mucus soiling impact considerably on patients' quality of life. HD is also a common finding in up to 36% of cirrhotic patients, as hemorrhoidal plexus is a possible site of portosystemic venous anastomosis. Despite portal hypertension does not increase the prevalence of hemorrhoids, elevated portal venous pressure, with a not so rare contribution of coagulopathy, may result in massive, life-threatening hemorrhoidal bleeding, unlike the normal population. Besides, internal HD bleeding is the most frequently identified cause of bleeding with origin on the lower gastrointestinal tract among cirrhotic patients with severe hematochezia .

HD treatment can be grouped into conservative (diet, lifestyle changes, laxatives, anti-inflammatory drugs, phlebotonics), office-based (sclerotherapy, ligation, photocoagulation, laser photocoagulation, among others) and surgical (hemorrhoidectomy, hemorrhoidopexy). The choice of therapy should be oriented by the Goligher's classification, or a symptom score such as Rørvik's Hemorrhoidal Disease Symptom Score (HDSS).

Cirrhotic patients represent a group often neglected in clinical trials so, little is known about the optimal treatment for HD these patients. Surgical treatment with stapled hemorrhoidopexy has been described in cirrhotic patients as a feasible and safe approach, but with up to 46,7% of the procedures complicated with postoperative staple-line bleeding, although all of them managed with conservative treatment without reoperation or death. Recently, Ashraf et al compared hemorrhoidectomy performed using rubber band ligation (RBL) with conventional hemorrhoidectomy in 40 randomized patients with liver disease and diagnosed with grade I, II, or III HD. Intraoperative blood loss was lower in RBL group (1.2 ± 1.6 ml vs 22.2 ± 6.58 ml, p=0,001), as well as operative time (9.00 ± 2.449 min vs 24.100 ± 3.669 min, p=0,001). Importantly, postoperative pain (35% vs 100%, p=0,001), bleeding (15% vs 45%, p=0,022) and urine retention (20% vs 55%, p=0,011) were lower in the RBL group, along with time of hospital stay (8.6 ± 2.54 h vs 60.65 ± 41.93, p=0,002) and time of wound healing (16.85 ± 1.87 days vs 31.00 ± 3.57 days, p=0,003).

Bearing in mind the high rate of surgical complications in cirrhotic patients, these results suggest that office-based treatments, may be the preferred treatment for cirrhotic patients with HD grades I to III. Awad et al, compared the efficacy of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) to RBL in the treatment of bleeding internal hemorrhoids in 120 adult patients with liver cirrhosis. Both techniques were highly effective in the control of bleeding with a low rebleeding [10% in the EBL group and 13.33% in the EIS group] and recurrence [20% in the EBL group and 20% in the EIS group] rates; also, EBL had significantly less pain and higher patient satisfaction than EIS. However, these authors have used liquid sclerosing agents (either ethanolamine oleate 5% or N-butyl cyanoacrylate). A recent portuguese study by Fernandes et al has evaluated the efficacy and safety of a sclerosing agent, polidocanol, foam injection in 2000 consecutive patients with prolapsed hemorrhoids (grades II/III/IV). This technique showed high efficacy (98%) and tolerability (92% with mild/no pain) with only 0,7% of serious complications (major bleeding n=3; urinary retention n=4; infection/suppuration requiring surgery n=2). Also, in this cohort, 210 patients (10,5%) were under anticoagulation or double antiplatelet therapy) and only 2 of these patients presented clinically significant bleeding. The authors conclude that polidocanol foam should be used as first-line treatment of most hemorrhoid patient, including those under anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy. Nevertheless, no cirrhotic patients were included, so results cannot be generalized to this particular high-risk group.

The objective of this study is to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment of grade I, II and III internal hemorrhoidal disease with polidocanol foam in cirrhotic patients.

Being tested
Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy
Keywords
Hemorrhoids, Liver Cirrhosis, Sclerotehrapy, Polidocanol foam
Medical subject headings
Hemorrhoids, Liver Cirrhosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Polidocanol foam sclerotherapyProcedure or surgery

    The preparation of the foam is done according to the Tessari's technique using 2 disposable 20ml syringe, a three-way tap and a 10cm reusable extender adapted to intravenous needle. The sclerosant is applied according to the Blanchard's technique through a disposable transparent anoscope with the patient in jack-knife (knee-chest) position. In each session treatment can be performed on more than one hemorrhoidal cushion. The maximum dose per treatment session is 20ml (mixture of 4ml of polidocanol 3% with 16ml of air).

Study groups in NCT05807425
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Polidocanol foam sclerotherapyExperimentalA cohort of cirrhotic patients with hemorrhoidal disease will be treated with polidocanol foam sclerotherapy.
Receives: Procedure: Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Therapeutic success

    For efficacy evaluation during the intervention period the outcome of therapeutic success (improvement of HDSS) will be assessed; the therapeutic success is subdivided in: complete (HDSS = 0), partial (HDSS > 0 but with improvement over the initial score) or unsuccess (participants that, after 3 sessions of office-based treatment worsened or maintained the initial HDSS

    Measured: 9 weeks

  2. Incidence of Treatment Adverse Events

    Complications will be assessed and classified as: mild (e.g. pain/discomfort, minor bleeding, external hemorrhoidal thrombosis not requiring surgical intervention); moderate (e.g. external hemorrhoidal thrombosis requiring surgical intervention, moderate bleeding not requiring blood transfusion, urgent hemostasis or urgent surgery); and severe (e.g. sepsis, Fournier's gangrene, perineal abscess, bleeding with hemodynamic instability, transfusion need or urgent surgery, sexual impotence in man).

    Measured: 9 weeks

Secondary outcomes (3)

  1. Variation of Goligher classification (hemorrhoidal prolapse from grade 1 to grade 4)

    Variation of Goligher classification before and after the intervention

    Measured: 9 weeks

  2. Number of office-based therapy sessions

    Number of office-based therapy sessions performed during intervention period

    Measured: 9 weeks

  3. Hemorrhoidal disease recurrence

    Recurrence during the follow-up period (for patients who have had therapeutic success) will be defined as mild, if HDSS worsened compared to the previous visit but is still better than the initial visit; or severe if HDSS equals or worsens compared to the initial score, requiring instrumental or surgical treatment.

    Measured: 1 year

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Apr 2023
  2. Study start31 Mar 2023
  3. Primary completion30 Sep 2023 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2023 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2/3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
During the intervention period the participants are observed at 3-week intervals (maximum of 3 sessions). The required number of sessions (maximum of 3) is determined by clinical and anoscopic evaluation (if the participant is non-symptomatic and/or there is no significant hemorrhoidal disease on anoscopy, the patient will not be a candidate for additional instrumental therapy moving directly to the follow-up period). After the intervention period, a one-year follow-up is scheduled with medical appointments performed every 3 months.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
40 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05807425
Sponsor's protocol ID
2021.051(041-DEFI/042-CE)
Status last verified
Apr 2023
First submitted
21 Mar 2023
Last updated
11 Apr 2023
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Misra SP, Dwivedi M, Misra V. Prevalence and factors influencing hemorrhoids, anorectal varices, and colopathy in patients with portal hypertension. Endoscopy. 1996 May;28(4):340-5. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1005477.

    PubMed 8813499

  • Riss S, Weiser FA, Schwameis K, Riss T, Mittlbock M, Steiner G, Stift A. The prevalence of hemorrhoids in adults. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2012 Feb;27(2):215-20. doi: 10.1007/s00384-011-1316-3. Epub 2011 Sep 20.

    PubMed 21932016

  • Hosking SW, Smart HL, Johnson AG, Triger DR. Anorectal varices, haemorrhoids, and portal hypertension. Lancet. 1989 Feb 18;1(8634):349-52. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(89)91724-8.

    PubMed 2563507

  • Jacobs DM, Bubrick MP, Onstad GR, Hitchcock CR. The relationship of hemorrhoids to portal hypertension. Dis Colon Rectum. 1980 Nov-Dec;23(8):567-9. doi: 10.1007/BF02988998.

    PubMed 6970115

  • Camus M, Khungar V, Jensen DM, Ohning GV, Kovacs TO, Jutabha R, Ghassemi KA, Machicado GA, Dulai GS. Origin, Clinical Characteristics and 30-Day Outcomes of Severe Hematochezia in Cirrhotics and Non-cirrhotics. Dig Dis Sci. 2016 Sep;61(9):2732-40. doi: 10.1007/s10620-016-4198-y. Epub 2016 Jun 10.

    PubMed 27286877

  • Hull TL. Surgery of the anus, rectum and colon. Gastroenterology. 2000 Oct;119(4):1173-5. doi: 10.1016/s0016-5085(00)80038-4. No abstract available.

    PubMed 11040208

  • Rorvik HD, Styr K, Ilum L, McKinstry GL, Dragesund T, Campos AH, Brandstrup B, Olaison G. Hemorrhoidal Disease Symptom Score and Short Health ScaleHD: New Tools to Evaluate Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life in Hemorrhoidal Disease. Dis Colon Rectum. 2019 Mar;62(3):333-342. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000001234.

    PubMed 30451751

  • Huang WS, Lin PY, Chin CC, Yeh CH, Hsieh CC, Chang TS, Wang JY. Stapled hemorrhoidopexy for prolapsed hemorrhoids in patients with liver cirrhosis; a preliminary outcome for 8-case experience. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2007 Sep;22(9):1083-9. doi: 10.1007/s00384-007-0271-5. Epub 2007 Mar 2.

    PubMed 17334772

  • Awad AE, Soliman HH, Saif SA, Darwish AM, Mosaad S, Elfert AA. A prospective randomised comparative study of endoscopic band ligation versus injection sclerotherapy of bleeding internal haemorrhoids in patients with liver cirrhosis. Arab J Gastroenterol. 2012 Jun;13(2):77-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ajg.2012.03.008. Epub 2012 Apr 24.

    PubMed 22980596

  • Fernandes V, Fonseca J. Polidocanol Foam Injected at High Doses with Intravenous Needle: The (Almost) Perfect Treatment of Symptomatic Internal Hemorrhoids. GE Port J Gastroenterol. 2019 May;26(3):169-175. doi: 10.1159/000492202. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

    PubMed 31192285

  • Salgueiro P, Garrido M, Santos RG, Pedroto I, Castro-Pocas FM. Polidocanol Foam Sclerotherapy Versus Rubber Band Ligation in Hemorrhoidal Disease Grades I/II/III: Randomized Trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2022 Jul 1;65(7):e718-e727. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000002117. Epub 2022 Nov 22.

    PubMed 34840294

  • Salgueiro P, Rei A, Garrido M, Rosa B, Oliveira AM, Pereira-Guedes T, Morais S, Castro-Pocas F. Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease in patients with bleeding disorders: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study. Tech Coloproctol. 2022 Aug;26(8):615-625. doi: 10.1007/s10151-022-02600-5. Epub 2022 Feb 25.

    PubMed 35217937

  • Neves S, Falcao D, Povo A, Castro-Pocas F, Oliveira J, Salgueiro P. 3% polidocanol foam sclerotherapy versus hemorrhoidal artery ligation with recto anal repair in hemorrhoidal disease grades II-III: a randomized, pilot trial. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2023 Mar;115(3):115-120. doi: 10.17235/reed.2022.8568/2022.

    PubMed 35638762

  • Salgueiro P, Ramos MI, Castro-Pocas F, Libanio D. Office-Based Procedures in the Management of Hemorrhoidal Disease: Rubber Band Ligation versus Sclerotherapy - Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. GE Port J Gastroenterol. 2022 Mar 8;29(6):409-419. doi: 10.1159/000522171. eCollection 2022 Nov.

    PubMed 36545183

  • Salgueiro P, Caetano AC, Oliveira AM, Rosa B, Mascarenhas-Saraiva M, Ministro P, Amaro P, Godinho R, Coelho R, Gaio R, Fernandes S, Fernandes V, Castro-Pocas F. Portuguese Society of Gastroenterology Consensus on the Diagnosis and Management of Hemorrhoidal Disease. GE Port J Gastroenterol. 2020 Feb;27(2):90-102. doi: 10.1159/000502260. Epub 2019 Sep 5.

    PubMed 32266306

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2/3 study testing Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy in people with Hemorrhoids and Liver Cirrhosis, run by Universidade do Porto at 1 site in Portugal.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Apr 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Portugal. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Paulo Salgueiro, MD PhD (00351222077500, paulosalgueiro@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Therapeutic success (time frame: 9 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05807425, which also lists 15 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Apr 2023.

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