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Megarectum in Adults

NCT07599527 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 120

Last updated 2026-05-20

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Severe functional constipation associated with a pathological increase in rectal volume, with or without colonic dilation, is known as megarectum. In the absence of an organic cause, megarectum is called idiopathic. This condition can begin at birth, in childhood, or in adulthood. The exact incidence of idiopathic megarectum (IM) is unknown, but it is considered a rare condition. Clinically, IM is usually considered in the context of chronic constipation that is refractory to traditional treatments and accompanied by rectal distension, abdominal pain, encopresis, and recurrent fecal impaction. The pathophysiological basis of IM remains poorly understood. A study using a rectal barostat-a device that measures rectal capacity and compliance (the rectum's ability to distend) by controlled distension of a rectal balloon-identified two distinct subgroups of patients with MI: (1) those with increased rectal compliance, who can be described as having "physiological" megarectum, in which marked rectal hyposensitivity-characterized by the absence of perception of rectal distension-and hypocontractility lead to chronic fecal accumulation and progressive overdistension due to loss of rectal elasticity; and (2) those with normal rectal compliance, who can be considered to have anatomical megarectum. It is not yet known whether these subgroups reflect different underlying etiologies. Furthermore, in patients with physiological megarectum, it is unclear whether the condition is primary or secondary to long-term rectal distension.

Conditions

  • Idiopathic Megarectum

Interventions

OTHER

Idiopathic megarectum group

questionnaires documented by patients with suspected megarectum on anorectal manometry and confirmed by rectal barostat

OTHER

Constipated patient group

questionnaires completed by adult patients consulting for functional constipation without suspected megarectum on anorectal manometry

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Rouen

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Anne-Marie AL LEROI, Professor · University Rouen Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-06-01
Primary Completion
2028-06-02
Completion
2028-12-01

Countries

  • France

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 NCT07599527 on ClinicalTrials.gov