Plasticity Biomarkers,Interleukin-6 and Motor Performance in Response to Vagus Nerve Stimulation After Stroke

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Stroke; Motor Disorders
• Interventions: Device: Sham Trancutaneous auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation; Device: True Transcutaneous auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (TaVNS)

• Registration Number: NCT06388954
• Lead Sponsor: Cairo University

Brief Summary

Seventy-eight clinically verified Egyptian patients from both sexes with ischemic stroke that occurred at least 6 months to 2 years before inclusion will be randomly assigned into 2 groups, control group (GA) and the experimental group (GB). Patients will be randomly assigned into two equal groups: the control group (GA) and the experimental group (GB). Patients in the control group (GA) will be treated with sham Vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) immediately before a selected physical therapy program, while in the experimental group (GB), patients will receive real transcutaneous auricular Vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) followed by the same selected physical therapy program as (GA). Plasma level of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factors (BDNF) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Box and Blocks Test (BBT), and modified Ashworth scale (MAS) will be assessed at baseline and immediately post-treatment.

Detailed Description

Background: Neuromodulation techniques play an integral role in restoring motor function in stroke patients by affecting the adaptive neuroplasticity and activation of neuromodulators that may reduce brain inflammation post stroke.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation on plasma levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factors (BDNF), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), gross manual dexterity, and muscle tone in patients with ischemic stroke.

Materials and Methods: Seventy-eight clinically verified Egyptian patients from both sexes with ischemic stroke that occurred at least 6 months to 2 years before inclusion, aged 55 to 65 years, were recruited. Patients will be randomly assigned into two equal groups; control group (GA) and the experimental group (GB). Patients in the control group (GA) were treated with sham Vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) immediately before a selected physical therapy program, while in the experimental group (GB), patients received real transcutaneous auricular Vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) followed by the same selected physical therapy program as (GA). Plasma levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factors (BDNF), serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) , Box and Blocks Test (BBT) and Modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were assessed at baseline and immediately post-treatment.

Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in BBT, plasma IL-18 level and BDNF in experimental group (GB) post-treatment (P\< 0.05) with no change in MAS. There was no statistical significant difference in BBT, plasma Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and MAS in control group post treatment (P\> 0.05). While, there is a statistically significant improvement in BDNF in the control group post treatment. A statistically significant improvement was observed of BBT and BDNF in the study group compared to the control group (P\< 0.05). There was no statistical significant difference in MAS between study and control groups (P\> 0.05).

Conclusions: Non-invasive VNS as an adjunct to conventional physical rehabilitation enhances neuroplasticity and improves upper limb motor ability after ischemic stroke, as well as reducing the stroke-induced inflammatory process, which may affect the disease prognosis.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-02-21
• Study First Submitted: 2024-04-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-04-24
• Study First Posted: 2024-04-29
• Status Verified: 2024-05
• Primary Completion: 2024-12-23
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-23
• Last Update Posted: 2024-12-27
• Study Completion: 2025-01-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

• Hemiparetic patients with ischemic middle cerebral artery stroke
• The duration of illness ranged from at least 6 months to 2 years after stroke.
• Patient's age ranged from 55 to 65 years, patients with unilateral upper limb motor function impairment.
• Patients able to transfer at least one block in Box and Blocks Test.
• Patients with sufficient cognitive abilities that enables them to understand and follow instructions.
• Spasticity of upper limb muscles ranged from (grade 1:2) according to Modified Ashworth scale.

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Exclusion Criteria

• Other neurological diseases that affect upper limb function other than stroke (e.g.: Multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinsonism....etc.).
• Hemorrhagic stroke
• Visual or auditory impairment affecting their ability to complete the testing.
• Cognitive impairment.
• Cardiovascular problems and pulmonary or kidney disorders
• Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. scoliosis, kyphosis, severe arthritis...etc.)
• Severe spasticity (a Modified Ashworth Scale score ≥3).
• Patients with any taVNS contraindications such as previous surgical intervention on Vagus nerve.
• Low blood pressure (<100/60mmHg) or low heart rate (<60bpm) and or high blood pressure (>220/130 mmHg).
• Pacemaker or other implanted electrical device.
• Any current or past history of cardiovascular disorders
• Facial or ear pain
• Recent ear trauma .

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control group (GA)	Sham Trancutaneous auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation	Patients in the control group (GA) will be treated by 12 sessions of sham transcutaneous auricular Vagus nerve stimulation for 30 minutes immediately, will be followed by 30 minutes of a selected physical therapy program, three sessions per week for four consecutive weeks. Sham transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation was performed using the same procedures as the study group but without electrical stimulation.
Study group (GB)	True Transcutaneous auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (TaVNS)	Patients in the study group (GB) will be treated by 12 sessions of true transcutaneous auricular Vagus nerve stimulation for 30 minutes , then immediately followed by 30 minutes of a selected physical therapy program (GA), three sessions per week for four consecutive weeks. The stimulation of the auricular branch of the Vagus nerve will be performed by conventional TENS device with one channel and two electrodes.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Muscle tone of the upper limb	Baseline Assessment and Immediately Post Treatment.	The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) will be used; it is a six-point ordinal scale. It ranges from 0 (no increase in muscle tone) to 4 (affected part rigid in flexion or extension). The muscle tone was measured by observing the response of the muscle group to the resistance of passive movement in the affected hand. The degree of muscle tone in the affected hand was classified as (0 = normal, 1 or 1+ = mild, 2 or 3 = moderate, or 4 = severe).
Level of Plasma brain-derived Derived factor (BDNF)	Baseline Assessment and Immediately Post Treatment.	Sandwich-ELISA kits will be used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Venous blood samples were collected in a disposable plastic vacuum tube with an anticoagulant. Samples were centrifuged for 15 min at 1000×g at 2-8 °C within 30 min of collection.
Gross hand dexterity	Baseline Assessment and Immediately Post Treatment.	The Box and Blocks Test (BBT) will be used; it is a quick, simple, and inexpensive test for measuring unilateral gross manual dexterity in stroke. The patients were asked to transfer as many blocks as they could from one compartment to the other for 60 seconds. The patient was allowed to choose any block of any color and to carry only one block each time with his hand, which must cross over the partition.
Level of Serum Interleukin IL-6	Baseline Assessment, Immediately Post Treatment, 3 Month Posttreatment Assessment (Follow-up)	Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a crucial inflammatory factor in that its significant increase was observed in stroke patients shortly following the ischemic event and serves a vital role as a messenger molecule between leucocytes, the vascular endothelium, and parenchyma. A single referral lab will test the samples using ELISA and U/CyTech kits. From each participant, 10 milliliters of non-fasting blood sample will be obtained 6 to 24 hours after the onset of symptoms and kept in citrate tubes. Blood samples will thereafter centrifuged within 1 hour at 3000 × g for 15 minutes at 4°C and resultant plasma will be kept in -80°C.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University; 🇪🇬 Giza, Dokki, Egypt