A Study to Evaluate Non-invasive Measurements of the Inflammatory Status in Patients with IBD

NCT ID: NCT06900738

Last Updated: 2025-03-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-10-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-10-01

Brief Summary

Patients with IBD, including both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, require accurate monitoring of intestinal inflammation for optimal follow-up and treatment. Traditional markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin are useful but are either invasive or disliked by patients and a proper continuous monitoring is not feasible with fragmented biomarker information.

The NimBio technology provides support for the clinicians who are managing IBD patients' care based on a wearable technology that allows tracking responsiveness of blood flow properties (also called hemorheology) to inflammatory processes. NimBio's technology analyses blood flow properties using photoplethysmography (PPG), an optical signal, which detects blood flow changes in the microvascular bed of tissues. The PPG signal is obtained from a commercially available wearable (bracelet) which is convenient for the patients. Based on the impact of inflammation on parameters influencing hemorheology (mainly blood vessel stiffness, blood viscosity and red blood cell aggregation) and the fact that the PPG signal mirrors blood flow characteristics, PPG measurements are associated with changes in inflammatory biomarkers and therefore correlate with disease activity.

This offers a possibility for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of inflammation. The study aims to further validate the NimBio Inflammometer and its value for monitoring inflammatory changes and dynamics in patients with IBD at the University Hospitals Leuven.

Detailed Description

Patients with IBD, including both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, require accurate monitoring of intestinal inflammation for optimal follow-up and treatment. Traditional markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin are useful but are either invasive or disliked by patients and a proper continuous monitoring is not feasible with fragmented biomarker information.

The NimBio technology provides support for the clinicians who are managing IBD patients' care based on a wearable technology that allows tracking responsiveness of blood flow properties (also called hemorheology) to inflammatory processes. NimBio's technology analyses blood flow properties using photoplethysmography (PPG), an optical signal, which detects blood flow changes in the microvascular bed of tissues. The PPG signal is obtained from a commercially available wearable (bracelet) which is convenient for the patients. Based on the impact of inflammation on parameters influencing hemorheology (mainly blood vessel stiffness, blood viscosity and red blood cell aggregation) and the fact that the PPG signal mirrors blood flow characteristics, PPG measurements are associated with changes in inflammatory biomarkers and therefore correlate with disease activity.

This offers a possibility for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of inflammation. The study aims to further validate the NimBio Inflammometer and its value for monitoring inflammatory changes and dynamics in patients with IBD at the University Hospitals Leuven

Conditions

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); Ulcerative Colitis (UC); Crohn Disease (CD)

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

IBD patients with inflammometer

blood samples, stool samples, questionnaires and inflammometer measurements

Group Type: OTHER

Inflammometer

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Patients wear an inflammometer for Photoplethysmography measurements.

Interventions

Inflammometer

Patients wear an inflammometer for Photoplethysmography measurements.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

inflammatory biomarkers; Photoplethysmography

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Voluntary written informed consent of the participant or their legally authorized representative has been obtained prior to any screening procedures

2. At least 18 years of age at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF)

3. Diagnosis of IBD (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) or IBDU

4. Hospitalized or ambulatory patients with active IBD defined as:

1. HBI ≥ 5, or PMS score ≥3, and

2. Faecal Calprotectin ≥200 μg/g or CRP > 10 mg/ml, and

3. Access to iOS or Android-based smartphone with internet access

5. Ambulatory patients would be recruited to the study with a gender ratio that will not deviate from a 40:60 ratio in favor of either gender

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pregnancy

2. Allergy to steel or elastomer/rubber

3. Using a pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillator, neurostimulator, or other electronic medical equipment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

NimBio

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Marc Ferrante

Prof. dr. Marc Ferrante

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University Hospital Leuven

Leuven, , Belgium

Countries

Belgium

Central Contacts

Marc Ferrante, Prof Dr

Role: CONTACT

marc.ferrante@uzleuven.be

016342845 ext. +32

Stefan Delen, Dr

Role: CONTACT

stefandelen@hotmail.com

Facility Contacts

Marc Ferrante, Prof Dr

Role: primary

marc.ferrante@uzleuven.be

016342845 ext. +32

Other Identifiers

VERSATILE

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id