A Randomized Multicentre Study for the Acute Relief of Episodic and Chronic Cluster Headache.

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cluster Headache
• Interventions: Device: gammaCore

• Registration Number: NCT01958125
• Lead Sponsor: ElectroCore INC

Brief Summary

The study will look at a non-invasive treatment for people suffering with chronic and episodic headaches. Study subjects will be randomized to an active treatment or an in-active treatment for 2 weeks. After the 2 weeks all subjects will continue to treat with an active treatment for an additional 2 weeks.

Detailed Description

The study is a prospective double blind, randomized, sham-controlled, multi-center investigation designed for comparison of two parallel groups, GammaCore® (active treatment) and a sham, (in-active) treatment. The study period begins with a 1-week run-in period, followed by a 2 week comparative period when the subjects are randomized (1:1) to either active treatment or sham (in-active) treatment. The comparative period will be followed by an open label 2 week period, where the subjects in the sham treatment group will switch in treatment assignment and receive an active treatment and the active group will continue to receive an active treatment.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-08
• Study First Submitted: 2013-10-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-10-07
• Study First Posted: 2013-10-08
• Primary Completion: 2014-10
• Study Completion: 2015-01
• Results First Submitted: 2018-02-28
• Status Verified: 2019-02
• Results First Submitted QC: 2019-02-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-02-25
• Results First Posted: 2019-02-26
• Last Update Posted: 2019-02-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 102

Inclusion Criteria

• Is 18 years or older
• Has been diagnosed with episodic or chronic cluster headache in accordance with the ICHD-2 Classification criteria (2ndEd)
• Is capable of completing the 5-point pain scale, disability scale and other self-assessments
• Agrees to refrain from starting new medication aimed to control the cluster headache for the duration of the run-in and randomized phase
• Is able to provide written Informed Consent

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Exclusion Criteria

• Episodic cluster headache sufferers who are not in a cluster headache bout at the time of screening and enrollment
• 2. Need to commence treatment with oral or injectable steroids for eventual concomitant medical conditions
• 3. Has a lesion (including lymphadenopathy), dysaesthesia, previous surgery or abnormal anatomy at the GammaCore® treatment site
• 4. Is currently taking medication for indications other than CH that in the opinion of the clinician may interfere with the study
• 5. Has a history of any cranial aneurysm, intracranial haemorrhage, brain tumours or significant head trauma
• 6. Diagnosed or suspected secondary headache
• 7. Has other significant pain problem that might confound the study assessments in the opinion of the investigator
• 8. Has known or suspected severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, severe carotid artery disease (e.g. bruits or history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or cerebral vascular accident CVA), congestive heart failure (CHF), known severe coronary artery disease or recent (5 years) myocardial infarction
• 9. Has an abnormal baseline ECG (e.g. second and third degree heart block, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, recent history of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, or clinically significant premature ventricular contraction)
• 10. Has had a previous, cervical vagotomy
• 11. Has uncontrolled high blood pressure
• 12. Is currently implanted with an electrical and/or neurostimulator device, including but not limited to cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator, vagal neurostimulator, deep brain stimulator, spinal stimulator, bone growth stimulator, or cochlear implant
• 13. Has a history of carotid endarterectomy or vascular neck surgery
• 14. Has been implanted with metal cervical spine hardware or has a metallic implant near the GammaCore stimulation site
• 15. Has a recent (12 months) or repeated history of syncope
• 16. Has a recent (12 months) or repeated history of seizure
• 17. Has a known history or suspicion of substance abuse or addiction, or overuse of acute headache medication
• 18. Has psychiatric or cognitive disorder and/or behavioural problems which in the opinion of the clinician may interfere with the study
• 19. Is pregnant, nursing, thinking of becoming pregnant in the next 6 weeks 20. Is participating in any other therapeutic clinical investigation or has participated in a clinical trial in the preceding 30 days
• 21. Is a relative of or an employee of the investigator or the clinical study site

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
gammacore	gammaCore	gammacore active device to be used noninvasively to the vagal nerve in the neck.
inactive gammacore	gammaCore	same as the active treatment, but without the therapy treatment provided

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Comparison of the Headache Pain Free Attack Rates at 15 Minutes Following the Treatment	2 weeks	Headache pain was collected at the beginning of the attack (all treated attacks) and 15 minutes post treatment pain free attacks.; Data was collected in the patient diary.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Disability From Baseline (Randomization) to 2 Weeks After Baseline	2 weeks	Mean difference of scores on a 5 step disability scale. Disability was measured at baseline and after the randomization phase (2 weeks later). Lowest score is 1 and is better than the higher score at 5 that is the worst. An increase, higher scores, means worsening.; 1. minor; 2. minor/moderate; 3. moderate; 4. moderate/severe; 5. severe
Patients Who Used Any Type of Rescue Medication	2 weeks	Following treatment at 15 minutes, patients recorded use of any rescue medication(s) in the diary'
Mean Change of Questionnaire EQ-5D-3L (Euroqol- 5D-3L) From Baseline to After 2 Weeks Treatment	2 weeks	EQ-5D-3L descriptive system comprises 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, activity, pain and anxiety. Each dimension has 3 levels: 1 = no problems, 2 = moderate problems, 3=extreme problems. Subjects indicate health state by ticking choosing appropriate statement in each dimension and a VAS scale (Overall health) from 0-100 mm where higher score is better (100) than lower score (0).; Patients completed the EQ-5D-3L at baseline (the start of the randomized period and at 2 weeks).
Comparison of the Headache Pain Free Attack Rates at 30 Minutes Following the Treatment	2 weeks	The headache pain was collected at the beginning of the attack and 30 minutes post treatment in the patient diary.; The number of pain free (no pain) attacks are compared to all attacks treated

Trial Locations

Locations (9)

Westdeutches Kopfschmerzzentrum; 🇩🇪 Essen, Germany

Glostrup Hospital, Danish Headache Centre; 🇩🇰 Glostrup, Denmark

Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich; 🇩🇪 Munich, Germany

Leiden University Medical Center, Neurology Department, K5-Q-104; 🇳🇱 Leiden, Netherlands

The Southern Hospital, Neurology Department; 🇬🇧 Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom

Royal Free, Dept for Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences; 🇬🇧 London, Greater London, United Kingdom

The Walton Center, Neurology Department; 🇬🇧 Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom

Hull Royal Infirmary, Neurology Department; 🇬🇧 Hull, East Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Kopfschmerzklinik Königstein; 🇩🇪 Königstein im Taunus, Germany