Effects of Multichannel Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Reduce Hypertonia in Patients With Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness: a Pilot Study.
试验速览
- 阶段
- 1 期
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 17
- 试验地点
- 2
- 主要终点
- Change in MAS scores
研究概览
简要总结
Previous studies showed that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) transiently improves performance of motor function in stroke patients, as well as decrease muscle hypertonia. In severely brain injured patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), a single stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has shown to improve patients' sign of consciousness. Nevertheless, other brain areas could be stimulated in order to manage other symptoms occurring in this population of patients, such as muscle hypertonia. In this study, investigators will assess the effects of bilateral fronto-central tDCS on spasticity as measured with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and on the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) scores in patients with DOC in a double-blind sham-controlled experimental design.
详细描述
Following severe brain damage and coma, some patients may remain in a vegetative state (VS) or minimally conscious state (MCS). At present, there are no evidence-based guidelines regarding the treatment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). A previous study showed that a single stimulation (using transcranial direct current stimulation - tDCS) of the left prefrontal cortex induces an behavioral improvement in some patients in DOC. Nevertheless, patients with DOC suffer from other invalidating dysfunctions such as spasticity (muscle hypertonia). In sroke patients, the inhibition of the motor cortex through cathodes placed over the motor region showed to reduce spasticity.
In this study, investigators aim to assess the effect of single session of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over right and left fronto-central areas (using 2 anodes and 2 cathodes), on the level of hypertonia and the level of consciousness of patients with DOC, in a double blind randomized sham controlled study. The anodes will be placed over F3 and F4, and the cathodes over C3 and C4.
tDCS is a form of safe non-invasive cortical stimulation, modulating cortical excitability under the electrodes, via weak polarizing currents. It has been reported that anodal tDCS transiently improves motor functions in healthy subjects and patients with stroke or Parkinson's disease.
By reducing the activity of the motor cortex (cathodes) and increasing the activity of the prefrontal cortex (anodes) we expect to observe a better motor function in patients with DOC.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Crossover
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 16 Years 至 75 Years（Child, Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •post comatose patients
- •patients in minimally conscious state
- •patients with stable condition
- •patients free of sedative drugs and Na+ or Ca++ blockers (e.g., carbamazepine) or NMDA receptor antagonist (e.g., dextromethorphan)
排除标准
- •premorbid neurology antecedent
- •patients in coma
- •patients < 28 days after the acute brain injury
- •patients with a metallic cerebral implant
- •cranioplasty
研究组 & 干预措施
active tDCS
Patients will receive tDCS (bilateral fronto-central stimulation) during 20 minutes preceded and followed by a clinical assessment (Modified Ashworth Scale and Coma Recovery Scale-Revised) and neurophysiological assessment (8 channels EEG).
干预措施: tDCS (Device)
sham tDCS
Patients will receive sham tDCS (5 seconds of stimulation) during 20 minutes preceded and followed by a clinical assessment (Modified Ashworth Scale and Coma Recovery Scale-Revised) and neurophysiological assessment (8 channels EEG).
干预措施: sham tDCS (Device)
结局指标
主要结局
Change in MAS scores
时间窗: baseline and directly after tDCS (20 minutes)
Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) will by assessed before and after tDCS (active and sham). Comparison of treatment effect (MAS score after tDCS minus before) between active and sham tDCS. The MAS is a 5 points scale going from 0 (no spasticity) and 5 (extreme spasticity).
次要结局
- Change in brain oscillations(Baseline and directly after the tDCS (20 minutes))
- Change in the CRS-R total score(Baseline and directly after the tDCS (20 minutes)])
研究者
Aurore Thibaut
Principal Investigator
University of Liege