Local delivery of cannabidiol in patients with vestibulodynia

ISRCTN ISRCTN74077970
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN74077970
Secondary identifying numbers SDSM-2021-01.1
Submission date
10/08/2022
Registration date
11/09/2022
Last edited
30/08/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Urological and Genital Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Vulvodynia is a highly prevalent form of chronic genital pain in women and vestibulodynia is the prevalent subtype in which the pain is localized at the entry of vagina. The disease is related to nerve fibre inflammation. The aim of this study is to measure the effectiveness and safety of cannabidiol delivered using vestibular electroporation in patients with vestibulodynia. Cannabidiol has demonstrated significant pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neuropathic activities without the psychoactive effect. Electroporation is a painless technique to deliver drugs through microelectrical stimulation.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 years and over affected by vestibulodynia

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups:
Active group: patients will receive one treatment cycle of transmucosal delivery of cannabidiol (3 ml CBD 8% gel) using vestibular electroporation for six treatments total, once a week. This is followed by follow-up visits at 4 and 8 weeks.
Non-active group: patients in the placebo group will receive one treatment cycle of transmucosal delivery of placebo gel 3 ml using vestibular electroporation once a week for up to 6 weeks. This is followed by follow-up visits at 4 and 8 weeks.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The treatment may reduce or resolve the symptoms related to vestibulodynia (vulvar pain and/or pain at sexual intercourse). The researchers are not aware of adverse events related to the treatment.

Where is the study run from?
Ospedale dei Bambini Vittore Buzzi (Italy)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2022 to June 2023

Who is funding the study?
Associazione Italiana Vulvodinia (Italy)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Filippo Murina, filippo.murina@unimi.it

Contact information

Prof Filippo Murina
Principal Investigator

via Castelvetro 22
Milano
20154
Italy

Phone +39 (0)2 63635420
Email filippo.murina@unimi.it

Study information

Study designSingle-center interventional double-blinded randomized prospective trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleTransmucosal delivery of cannabidiol using vestibular electroporation in patients with vestibulodynia: a randomized, blinded prospective trial
Study acronymDECANVBD
Study hypothesisTo prospectively document the efficacy and safety of transmucosal delivery of cannabidiol using vestibular electroporation in patients with vestibolodynia in order to reduce dyspareunia and vulvar burning/pain
Ethics approval(s)Approval pending, Buzzi Hospital Ethics Committee
ConditionVulvodynia
InterventionRandomization is determined by a computer-generated number list (MedCalc Version 20.110).

Active group: patients will receive one treatment cycle of transmucosal delivery of cannabidiol (3 ml CBD 8% gel) using vestibular electroporation for six treatments total, once a week. This is followed by follow-up visits at 4 and 8 weeks.

Non-active group: patients in the placebo group will receive one treatment cycle of transmucosal delivery of placebo gel 3 ml using vestibular electroporation once a week for up to 6 weeks. This is followed by follow-up visits at 4 and 8 weeks
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureSymptoms evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment using:
1. 0-10 point visual scale (VAS) related to vulvar burning/pain and dyspareunia
2. Vestibular cotton swab test (small cotton-tipped applicator lightly rolled over the surfaces of the vestibule (mean of values at the 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11 o’clock locations by asking the subject to report pain intensity on a discrete visual analog scale of 1 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).
3. Validated instruments: Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Vulvar Pain Functional Questionnaire (V-Q)
Secondary outcome measuresEvaluation of current perception threshold (CPT) testing (a technique which quantifies the sensitivity of vestibular nerve fibers) and vaginal EMG measurements, collected at states of rest and during several pelvic floor exercises through an EMG device with a vaginal sensor (Myotonus plus©-London-UK). The CPT values will be measured using the Neurometer CPT/C electrodiagnostic neurostimulator (Neurotron, Inc., Baltimore, MD), and vulvar vestibule CPT values will be determined using a G-trode Vaginal/ Rectal Electrode (Neurotron, Inc., Baltimore, MD). Measured at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks follow-up visits.
Overall study start date01/05/2022
Overall study end date01/06/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexFemale
Target number of participants60 total, 30 patients active treatment, 30 patients control arm
Participant inclusion criteria1. Women at least 18 years of age and before the menopause
2. Experience moderate to severe pain (minimum of 5/10 on a numerical rating scale in at least 90 % of attempted sexual intercourse)
3. Pain limited to the vestibule during vaginal intercourse and during activities exerting pressure on the vestibule (tampon insertion, tight jeans or pants, cycling, horseback riding)
4. Presence of VBD for at least 6 months and diagnosed according to the standardized gynecological examination protocol by a staff gynecologist
5. Have a stable sexual partner (sexual activity should include some attempted vaginal penetrations to evaluate pain intensity)
6. Subject is willing to attempt sexual activity between visits
7. Read and signed informed consent
Participant exclusion criteria1. Active vulvovaginal infections at the time of their gynecological examination
2. Genital bleeding of unknown origin
3. Patients concomitantly included in different interventional clinical trials
4. Unwillingness to provide informed consent
Recruitment start date01/06/2022
Recruitment end date31/12/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Italy

Study participating centre

Ospedale dei Bambini Buzzi di Milano
Lower Genital Tract Disease Unit
Via Castelvetro 22
Milano
20154
Italy

Sponsor information

Ospedale dei Bambini Vittore Buzzi
Hospital/treatment centre

Via Castelvetro 22
Milan
20154
Italy

Phone +39 (0)250042000
Email info@vulvodinia.org
Website https://ospedaledeibambini.it/noi-e-il-buzzi/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/044ycg712

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Associazione Italiana Vulvodinia

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/05/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date

Editorial Notes

30/08/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by the Ospedale dei Bambini Vittore Buzzi.