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Predictors of Treatment Response of Motor Sequels After a Stroke

Conditions
Cerebrovascular Accident
Registration Number
NCT02432521
Lead Sponsor
University of Sao Paulo General Hospital
Brief Summary

The cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is currently the leading cause of death in Brazil and it is estimated that there are about 62 million stroke survivors worldwide. Thus, the stroke sequels are a major public health problem not only in Brazil but in the world, with existing treatments often insufficient for complete recovery. Thus this study aims to identify predictors of different responses from rehabilitation therapy through the evaluation of clinical and neurophysiological data performed before and after treatment. For the neurophysiological study will be used the association of electroencephalogram (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This last one will be performed in the baseline and after a single Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) session, aiming to leverage the ability of those technics to analyze the cerebral plasticity. As a secondary objective: 1) Identify specific features of brain plasticity involved in recovery from stroke and discuss the possible implications of these findings in the therapeutic approach; 2) Search possible electrophysiological markers that can be used as surrogate outcome of stroke of motor sequel.

Detailed Description

The cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is currently the leading cause of death in Brazil and it is estimated that there are about 62 million stroke survivors worldwide. Thus, the stroke sequels are a major public health problem not only in Brazil but in the world, with existing treatments often insufficient for complete recovery. Thus, the search for new treatments is necessary, as well as the need to optimize and individualize the existing treatments. Several approaches are being used in order to find predictors of the recovery of patients after the stroke, highlighting the most recent studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with tractography. However these studies have important limitations such as high cost, but mainly the low capacity of this technique to quantify brain plasticity known to play an important role in the recovery of stroke sequelae. Thus, techniques to measure brain plasticity theory offer the best potential to predict the resilience of post stroke injury, among which stands out transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

TMS is a noninvasive brain stimulation techniques suitable for measuring the motor cortex excitability which in turn is used as an indirect measure of brain plasticity. Another interesting approach is the combination of TMS with the study of neuronal function through the electroencephalogram (EEG). The EEG under the stroke, has also been suggested as sequelae recovery predictor, however in this scenario the association of these findings with TMS has not yet been explored. Thus this study aims to identify predictors of different responses from rehabilitation therapy through the evaluation of clinical and neurophysiological data performed before and after treatment. For the neurophysiological study will be used the association of electroencephalogram (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This last one will be performed in the baseline and after a single Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) session, aiming to leverage the ability of those technics to analyze the cerebral plasticity.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
49
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinical and radiological diagnosis (Functional magnetic Resonance (FMR) and/or Computerized tomography (TC) ) of the stroke;
  • More than one month from the date of the stroke;
  • Clinical stability;
  • Signed and dated informed consent form.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Disturbs that forbid the adherence in treatment;
  • Subjects already undergoing in other researches;
  • Pregnant women;
  • Lesions that could affect the proposed therapy;
  • The occurence of lesion or muscle,joint pain that could forbid the therapy;
  • Destabilization of the clinical comorbidities.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in motor cortex excitability as measured by Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)At baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline

A noninvasive brain stimulation techniques suitable for measuring the motor cortex excitability

Change in spontaneous electrical brain activity as assessed by Electroencephalogram (EEG)At baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline

The record of the brain's spontaneous electrical activity

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
cinematic variables analyzed with roboticAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline

speed, acceleration, articular angulation, time-to-point, task execution time, target displacement

Mini-mental State ExaminationAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Visual Analog Scale of PainAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Verbal fluency testAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Boston naming testAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Hamilton Rating scale of depressionAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
The Kinesthetic and visual imagery questionnaire (KVIQ)At baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)At baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Stroke Impact Scale (SIS)At baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Von Frey testAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Functional Independence MeasureAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Epworth Sleepiness ScaleAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Fugl-Meyer AssessmentAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Medical Research Council ScaleAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Modified Ashworth ScaleAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Finger TappingAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function TestAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline
Purdue Pegboard testAt baseline, 11th week, 22nd week, and after 3 and 6 months from baseline

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centro de Pesquisa Clínica do Instituto de Medicina e Reabilitação do HCFMUSP

🇧🇷

Sao Paulo, Brazil

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