Helping find chronic mesenteric ischemia earlier

PRomoting Early Diagnosis Of Chronic Mesenteric ISchEmia by a Mesenteric Artery Calcium Score Based Risk Stratification and Detection of Postprandial Mucosal Ischemia by Butyrate Breath Testing

Observational Erasmus Medical Center · NCT05735002

This project tests whether a 13C-butyrate breath test combined with CT-based mesenteric artery calcium scoring can help diagnose adults with suspected chronic mesenteric ischemia.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment296 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorErasmus Medical Center Academic / other
Locations4 sites (Enschede, Overijssel and 3 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05735002 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an observational, multi-center effort enrolling adults referred for possible chronic mesenteric ischemia. Participants undergo a noninvasive 13C-butyrate breath test to detect meal-related mucosal ischemia and have their CT scans analyzed for mesenteric arterial calcification similar to coronary calcium scoring. The aim is to identify a sensitive rule-out test and a specific confirmation test to reduce reliance on lengthy, invasive diagnostic workups. Key exclusions include prior mesenteric revascularization, unavailable or contraindicated CT imaging, common celiac–SMA origin, delayed gastric emptying, and untreated small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18 and older) referred to participating centers with clinical suspicion of chronic mesenteric ischemia who can give informed consent and have available CT imaging are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with prior mesenteric artery revascularization, no available CT or contraindications to CT, common celiac/SMA origin, pregnancy, known delayed gastric emptying, or untreated small intestinal bacterial overgrowth are unlikely to benefit from these tests.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, these methods could offer quicker, less invasive ways to rule out or confirm chronic mesenteric ischemia and reduce the need for complicated diagnostic procedures.

How similar studies have performed: Quantifying mesenteric arterial calcification borrows from the well-established coronary calcium score approach, but applying a 13C-butyrate breath test to detect postprandial mucosal ischemia is a novel application with limited prior clinical data.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a clinical suspicion of CMI referred to Maagdarm Ischemie Centrum Rotterdam (MICR), MST or UMCG.
* Patients ≥ 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who are unable to give informed consent
* Patients with previous mesenteric artery revascularization
* No available CT imaging and contraindications for CT imaging (e.g. pregnancy)
* Common origin of the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery
* Known delayed gastric emptying
* Known and untreated small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

Where this trial is running

Enschede, Overijssel and 3 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Chronic Mesenteric Ischemiabreath test, chronic mesenteric ischemie, calcium scoring
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.