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Protease Activated Receptor-2 and Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Critical Illness

NCT03011151 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 99

Last updated 2026-04-17

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction affects up to 50% of medical and surgical critically ill children. GI dysfunction, specifically gastric dysmotility and loss of epithelial barrier integrity, is associated with significant morbidity in critical illness. The mechanisms underlying GI dysfunction in critical illness are not well understood. GI dysfunction in surgery and critical illness has been associated with inflammation. There is evidence to suggest the protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is a link between inflammation and GI dysfunction. PAR2 is a G-coupled receptor present throughout the GI tract. PAR2 mediates GI motility and epithelial barrier integrity. PAR2 is activated by PAR2 agonists, specifically GI serine proteases and zonulin, released under conditions of inflammation. In this study the investigators will examine the relationship between inflammation and PAR2 activation by PAR2 agonists and subsequent GI dysfunction in pediatric critically ill surgical patients. The overall hypothesis of this study is that PAR2 activation by PAR2 agonists, GI serine proteases and zonulin, released due to inflammation results in gastric dysmotility and loss of epithelial barrier integrity. In this study, the investigators will examine whether PAR2 agonist expression is increased and correlates with GI dysfunction in critically ill surgical pediatric patients. This proposal fills a knowledge gap in the understanding of mechanisms for GI dysfunction in critical illness, and will be applicable to all surgical and medical critically ill children.

Conditions

  • Gastroparesis
  • Gastrointestinal Disorder, Functional
  • Critical Illness

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Enid Martinez, MD · Boston Children's Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age
2 Years
Max Age
30 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-08-01
Primary Completion
2024-06-30
Completion
2024-06-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03011151 on ClinicalTrials.gov