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Capsaicin for Post-stroke Dysphagia

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Dysphagia, Late Effect of Stroke
Interventions
Drug: InOrpha Solution
Registration Number
NCT04470752
Lead Sponsor
Georg Kägi, MD
Brief Summary

Randomised, double blind, Phase 2 Trial to evaluate the efficacy of oral Capsaicin in patients with post-stroke dysphagia in the (sub-)acute setting.

Detailed Description

After inclusion and the assessment of the swallowing function (PRESS, PAS, FOIS, FEES) patients will be randomised 1:1 to receive 1mcg Capsaicin or Placebo. Oral treatment will be applied 3 times daily either during meals or during regular swallowing tests/trainings accompanied by a Speech Language Pathologist. After re-assessment of the dysphagia after 7 days, patients with persistent dysphagia and applicable for further treatment will be treated for another 23 days with a final clinical swallowing evaluation after a total of 30 days. A Patient Medication Diary will used during the Duration of the Trial to capture compliance.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
82
Inclusion Criteria
  • Acute ischemic Stroke
  • Impairment of oral intake with FOIS ≤ 4
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain or CT scan with the finding of a subacute ischemic stroke
  • Informed Consent within 48 hours after admission, following initial swallowing assessment
Exclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis other than ischemic stroke
  • Late patient admission >48 hours after stroke onset
  • Impairment of functional oral intake scale ≥ 5
  • FEES >72h after admission
  • PAS <2
  • Pre-existing dysphagia
  • Dysphagia due to other cause
  • No evidence of stroke on imaging
  • Recurrent stroke = at least one stroke in the course of the study apart from the index stroke
  • Age <18 years
  • Current drug abuse
  • Amphetamine or amphetamine-like Medication
  • Regular oral treatment with chilli pepper extract
  • Allergies or known adverse reactions to the consumption of chilli pepper or capsaicin
  • Personality disorder
  • Severe dementia or delirium
  • Other reasons according to physician/investigator because of which the patient cannot participate in the study (not suitable for treatment or examinations)
  • withdrawal of consent by participant at any time of the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
CapsaicinCapsaicin 1% oral solutionInOrpha solution plus 1 mcg Capsaicin/ml, three times daily with meals for the Treatment period of 7 or 30 days.
PlaceboInOrpha SolutionInOrpha solution/ml, three times daily with meals for the Treatment period, 7 or 30 days.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) score7 days after randomisation

the between-group difference of the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) assessed with functional endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) 7 days after admission.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scoreat day 7 and 30 post admission

Between group differences (capsaicin / placebo) of Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS)

number of patients with Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placementfrom randomisation until day 30

Between group differences (capsaicin / Placebo) of number of patients with PEG tube placement

Latency of the Swallowing reflexfrom randomisation until day 30

Between group differences (capsaicin / Placebo) of Latency of the Swallowing reflex

Swallowing quality of life questionnaire (Swal-QoL) scorefrom randomisation until day 30

Between group differences (capsaicin / Placebo) of Swallowing quality of life questionnaire (Swal-QoL)

Change of Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) and/or Functional Oral Intake Score (FOIS) with supratentorial strokeafter 7 and 30 days post admission

admission of patients with and without sensory deficits (only supratentorial strokes)

Change of Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) and/or Functional Oral Intake with supra-infratentorial strokeafter 7 and 30 days post admission

of patients with stroke localisation with respect to supra-infratentorial localisation and involvement of sensory/motor swallowing cortex with its connections

days of nasogastric tube feedingfrom randomisation until day 30

Between group differences (capsaicin / placebo) of days of nasogastric tube feedings

number of patients with aspiration pneumoniafrom randomisation until day 30

Between group differences (capsaicin / Placebo) of number of patients with aspiration pneumonia

modified Ranking Scale (mRS) scorefrom randomisation until day 30

Between group differences (capsaicin / Placebo) of modified Ranking Scale (mRS)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kantonsspital St. Gallen

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St. Gallen, Saint Gallen, Switzerland

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