Pancreatic SteatosisSPESNCT06801769
Study for the Identification of a Score to Assess Intrapancreatic Fat Through Eco-Elastography and Its Correlation With Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin-Secreting Cells.
A study testing C-peptide in people with Pancreatic Steatosis and Metabolic Syndrome X, run by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart at 2 sites in Italy.
Trial summary
Brief Summary of the SPES Clinical Study The SPES clinical study aims to evaluate the relationship between pancreatic fat accumulation (pancreatic steatosis) and metabolic health. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Pancreatic Steatosis, Metabolic Syndrome X, Diabetes Mellitus
- What is being tested?
- C-peptide
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesItaly
- Study dates
- 17 Mar 2025to Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 80 years
- HbA1c <10% or fasting glucose <250 mg/dL
- Ability to understand and provide informed consent regarding the procedures, data collection, and analysis.
Who cannot join
- Age <18 years or >80 years
- History of diabetes treated with insulin
- HbA1c >10% or fasting glucose >250 mg/dL
- Pancreatic diseases (solid tumors/secretory NETs/cystic fibrosis; non-secretory NETs and IPMN may be included)
- Previous pancreatic surgery
- Moderate anemia (Hb <10 mg/dL)
Show all 11Show fewer
- Severe liver failure (Child-Pugh C)
- Non-metabolic causes of NAPLD (e.g., corticosteroid therapy, antiretrovirals, gemcitabine, octreotide, history of hemochromatosis, malnutrition, HBV/HIV infections)
- Alcohol abuse (>30 g/day of ethanol)
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Inability to adequately understand informed consent and study procedures
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Italy2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Gemelli University Hospistal
Rome, Lazio, 00168
Teresa Mezza
- Recruiting
Gemelli University Hospital
Rome, Lazio, 00168
Teresa Mezza, 0630156264, teresa.mezza@policlinicogemelli.it
About this study
Official title: Study for the Identification of a Quantitative Eco-Elastographic Score of Pancreatic Steatosis and Its Correlation With Beta-Cell Function and Metabolic Syndrome.
Brief Summary of the SPES Clinical Study
The SPES clinical study aims to evaluate the relationship between pancreatic fat accumulation (pancreatic steatosis) and metabolic health. Pancreatic steatosis has been linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome, but the underlying mechanisms and its impact on beta-cell function remain poorly understood.
Read more
The primary goal of this study is to develop a quantitative ultrasound elastography score to measure the degree of pancreatic steatosis and explore how this relates to pancreatic beta-cell function and key factors associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
A secondary goal is to categorize participants into four risk classes for type 2 diabetes based on their metabolic profiles and correlate these classes with the degree of pancreatic steatosis. This may provide insights into individual risk stratification for T2D and related complications.
The study will enroll 100 participants, aged 18 to 80, attending the Endoscopic Ultrasound Unit at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli in Rome. Participants will undergo endoscopic ultrasound for various clinical reasons, excluding those with pancreatic tumors, cystic fibrosis, or insulin-treated diabetes. Key inclusion criteria include controlled blood glucose levels (HbA1c < 10% or fasting glucose < 250 mg/dL) and the ability to understand and provide informed consent.
The study is interventional but does not involve drugs or medical devices. Participants will attend a visit where medical history, physical measurements (e.g., BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure), glucose tolerance tests, and blood work will be collected. This comprehensive approach aims to better understand the metabolic implications of pancreatic steatosis and its role in type 2 diabetes development.
The study will last 24 months, including the enrollment period. Findings may contribute to improved risk stratification, prevention, and management strategies for type 2 diabetes and related conditions.
- Being tested
- C-peptide
- Medical subject headings
- Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes Mellitus
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
C-peptideDiagnostic test
Measurement of C-peptide at 5 time points during a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Ultrasound | Experimental | Not described Receives: Diagnostic Test: C-peptide |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Identification of a quantitative ultrasound elastography score for the degree of pancreatic steatosis
Measured: One day assessment
Secondary outcomes (1)
Correlation of the score with metabolic and functional parameters across the four different risk classes for type 2 diabetes.
Measured: One day assessment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Jan 2025
- Study start17 Mar 2025
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pancreatic SteatosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 N/A
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Teresa Mezza, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06801769
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 7291
- Acronym
- SPES
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Jan 2025
- Last updated
- 20 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Study for the Identification of a Quantitative Eco-Elastographic Score of Pancreatic Steatosis and Its Correlation With Beta-Cell Function and Metabolic Syndrome.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06801769
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SPES / 7291
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Catholic University of the Sacred HeartUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Brief Summary of the SPES Clinical Study
The SPES clinical study aims to evaluate the relationship between pancreatic fat accumulation (pancreatic steatosis) and metabolic health. Pancreatic steatosis has been linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome, but the underlying mechanisms and its impact on beta-cell function remain poorly understood.
The primary goal of this study is to develop a quantitative ultrasound elastography score to measure the degree of pancreatic steatosis and explore how this relates to pancreatic beta-cell function and key factors associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
A secondary goal is to categorize participants into four risk classes for type 2 diabetes based on their metabolic profiles and correlate these classes with the degree of pancreatic steatosis. This may provide insights into individual risk stratification for T2D and related complications.
The study will enroll 100 participants, aged 18 to 80, attending the Endoscopic Ultrasound Unit at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli in Rome. Participants will undergo endoscopic ultrasound for various clinical reasons, excluding those with pancreatic tumors, cystic fibrosis, or insulin-treated diabetes. Key inclusion criteria include controlled blood glucose levels (HbA1c < 10% or fasting glucose < 250 mg/dL) and the ability to understand and provide informed consent.
The study is interventional but does not involve drugs or medical devices. Participants will attend a visit where medical history, physical measurements (e.g., BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure), glucose tolerance tests, and blood work will be collected. This comprehensive approach aims to better understand the metabolic implications of pancreatic steatosis and its role in type 2 diabetes development.
The study will last 24 months, including the enrollment period. Findings may contribute to improved risk stratification, prevention, and management strategies for type 2 diabetes and related conditions.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Ultrasound | Experimental | Diagnostic Test: C-peptide |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age between 18 and 80 years
- HbA1c <10% or fasting glucose <250 mg/dL
- Ability to understand and provide informed consent regarding the procedures, data collection, and analysis.
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Age <18 years or >80 years
- History of diabetes treated with insulin
- HbA1c >10% or fasting glucose >250 mg/dL
- Pancreatic diseases (solid tumors/secretory NETs/cystic fibrosis; non-secretory NETs and IPMN may be included)
- Previous pancreatic surgery
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| C-peptideMeasurement of C-peptide at 5 time points during a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). | Diagnostic test | Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Ultrasound |
Primary outcome
Identification of a quantitative ultrasound elastography score for the degree of pancreatic steatosis
Time frame: One day assessment
1 secondary outcome
Correlation of the score with metabolic and functional parameters across the four different risk classes for type 2 diabetes.
Time frame: One day assessment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Mar 2026.
Related trials for Pancreatic Steatosis
Active, not recruitingObservational study
Microbiome Characterization in Fatty Pancreas
Fatty Pancreas, Microbiome Analysis
Recruiting
Determination of Pancreatic Steatosis Prevalence and Correlation With High-risk Cyst Features
Pancreatic Steatosis, Pancreatic Cyst
Not yet recruiting
Efficacy of Mazdutide on Fatty Pancreas
Fatty Pancreas, Overweight
Active, not recruitingObservational study
The Pancreas Interception Center (PIC) for Early Detection, Prevention, and Novel Therapeutics
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Pancreatic Cyst
RecruitingObservational study
InAdvance: Surveillance, Prevention, and Interception in a Population at Risk for Cancer
Cancer Risk, Cancer Predisposition Syndrome
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing C-peptide in people with Pancreatic Steatosis and Metabolic Syndrome X, run by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart at 2 sites in Italy.
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 3 inclusion and 11 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Italy. 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.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Teresa Mezza (+393286990369, teresa.mezza@unicatt.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Identification of a quantitative ultrasound elastography score for the degree of pancreatic steatosis (time frame: One day assessment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 20 Mar 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.