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NCT Number: NCT03325959

Hyperbaric Oxygen Compared to Pharmaceutical Therapies for Fibromyalgia Syndrome

The investigators have previously studied the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a treatment for Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in a prospective, active control, crossover clinical trial. The results demonstrated significant amelioration of all FMS symptoms, with significant improvement in life quality; furthermore, the investigators were able to demonstrate significant neuroplasticity on SPECT imaging, with a decrease of the hyperactivity in posterior regions and elevation of the reduced activity in frontal areas.

In the proposed study, the investigators intend to both repeat and expand our previous findings, treating FMS patients with HBOT while performing an extensive of evaluation both before and after treatment.

In the current study, the investigators plan to compare HBOT to current standard of care of FMS (pharmacological and non - pharmacological).

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Key information

Conditions

Fibromyalgia Hyperbaric Oxygen Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Diseases Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Rheumatic Diseases Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center

Ẕerifin, 70300, Israel

About this study

The study will include 70 fibromyalgia patients in whom physical trauma, such mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), could be considered as the trigger for FMS. Each participant will be examined at the time of recruitment and a diagnosis of FMS will be verified, based on the updated 2016 diagnostic criteria In the current study the investigators will recruit patients not currently being treated with medications specific for FMS, including anti-depression drugs, gabapentanoids and tricyclics, opiods and medical cannabis. Patients who are on such treatment will be required to discontinue treatment 2 weeks before recruitment.

Patients will undergo randomization upon recruitment to one of the two study groups. One group will proceed to a course of HBOT treatment while the second group will commence with standard treatment for FMS, as outlined in the Israeli guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of FMS [41]. These patients will be given detailed education regarding the nature of FMS as well as recommendations regarding non - pharmacological interventions recommended for FMS, including graded physical exercise, hydrotherapy, movement-meditative treatments (e.g. Tai Chi) and cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT).

HBOT protocol: a total of 60 daily hyperbaric oxygen treatment sessions will be administrated 5 days per week. 60 sessions will include exposure of 90 minutes to 100% at 2 Absolute atmospheres (ATA), with 5 minutes air breaks every 20 minutes.

Pharmaceutical protocol: patients will be offered pharmacological treatment with one of the two medications currently licensed for the treatment of FMS in Israel, i.e. Cymbalta and Lyrica. Treatment with Lyrica will start at a dose of 75 mg at bedtime while treatment with Cymbalta will start at a dose of 30 mg a day (in the morning). After a period of 6 weeks patients will be evaluated and dose will be adjusted as necessary. Patients may also be switched from one medication to the other based according to clinical judgment.

Crossover: After 3 months of either pharmaceuitical or HBOT, once the 2nd evaluation is completed, all patients in both groups will be offered to switch to the alternative treatment group.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • FMS diagnosis, based on the updated 2016 diagnostic criteria
  • previous physical trauma (such as traumatic brain injury)

Exclusion criteria

  • the presence of systemic inflammatory disorders including inflammatory rheumatological and autoimmune disorders.
  • active malignancy,
  • chronic ongoing infection
  • major psychiatric disorders (excluding anxiety)
  • Patients currently or previously treated with Duloxetine (Cymbalta) or Pregabalin (Lyrica) will also be excluded
  • previous HBOT for any other reason prior to their inclusion;
  • Chest pathology incompatible with pressure changes (including active asthma);
  • Inner ear disease
  • Claustrophobia;
  • Inability to perform awake brain MRI test;
  • Previous neurologic conditions (eg. Epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, metabolic diseases, etc.);
  • Brain tumors;
  • Skull base fractures;
  • s/p neurosurgery that included: ventricular drainage, subdural hematomas drainage, epidural hematomas drainage, intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation. Depressed fracture surgery, (Patients suffering from Encephalomalacia per MRI imaging will not be excluded).
  • Inability to provide informed consent

Treatment and study plan

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment

Device

60 HBOT sessions at 2 ATA 100% oxygen

Cymbalta / Lyrica treatment

Drug

one of the two medications currently licensed for the treatment of FMS in Israel, i.e. Cymbalta and Lyrica.

Other names: Cymbalta / Lyrica

Crossover Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Device

60 HBOT sessions at 2 ATA 100% oxygen after crossover

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual analogue Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: at 3 months

    The primary end point of the study will be the measurement of daily pain on a (0-10) Visual analogue Scale

  2. Visual analogue Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: at 6 months

    The primary end point of the study will be the measurement of daily pain on a (0-10 scale) Visual analogue Scale

Secondary outcomes

  1. Global Pain Scale (GPS)

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms questionnaire named Global Pain Scale (GPS) questionnaire (0-100 scale)

  2. Patient global impression of change

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms questionnaire named: Patient global impression of change (yes/no)

  3. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms questionnaire named: Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire - FIQ (Hebrew version) (0-100 scale)

  4. Wide Spread Pain Index

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms questionnaire named:Wide Spread Pain Index (WPI) Fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms questionnaire named:Wide Spread Pain Index (scale 0-19)

  5. Symptom Severity Scale

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms questionnaire named:Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) (scale 0-12)

  6. SF-36 questionnaire

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Quality of life questionnaire named short-form 36 (SF-36) (scale 0-100)

  7. Medical Outcome Sleep Scale

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Sleep qualtiy questionnaire named: Medical Outcome Sleep Scale (MOS) questionnaire (0-100 scale)

  8. Beck Depression Inventory

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Depression questionnaire named Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) (scale 0-63)

  9. EQ-5D

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Quality of life questionnaire named EQ-5D (scale 0-25)

  10. Cognitive function

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    The Mindstreams battery includes several cognitive tests devised to check various aspects of brain capabilities. In the current study we will evaluate the cognitive indices based on the scores of the 6 cognitive tests listed below, which are expected to be relevant for mild TBI. For detailed description of all cognitive tests in Mindstreams battery

  11. Cognitive function - CANTAB

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Patients' cognitive functions will be assessed by CANTAB computerized cognitive tests (Cambrdige cognition , England) [52]. The CANTAB is a semiautomated test battery which can be administered on a laptop PC and more recently has been modified for administration on a handheld tablet. The current release of CANTAB Eclipse comprises 25 tests designed to assess components of cognitive function which fall into 7 broad groups of tests: visual memory, executive function, working memory and planning, attention, semantic/verbal memory, decision making and response control, social cognition, and screening/familiarization.

  12. Cerebral blood volume

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Cerebral blood volume (in mililiter) will be measured using perfusion MRI protocol Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC).

    • DSC: 50 T2*-weighted gradient-echo echo planar imaging (EPI) volumes will be acquired, 2 repetitions before a bolus injection of Gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA), 48 repetitions after injection of Gd-DTPA.

  13. Cerebral blood flow

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Cerebral blood volume (in mililiter/min) will be measured using perfusion MRI protocol Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC).

    • DSC: 50 T2*-weighted gradient-echo echo planar imaging (EPI) volumes will be acquired, 2 repetitions before a bolus injection of Gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA), 48 repetitions after injection of Gd-DTPA.

  14. Fractional anistropy

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Brain microstructure imaging will evalute fractional anistropy (FA , scale 0-1 in each region of interest. The MRI protocol will include diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

    MRI sequence parameters:

    • DTI: 30 diffusion weighted images will be scanned with different gradient directions (b=1000) and one volume without diffusion weighting

  15. Mean diffusivity

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Brain microstructure imaging will evalute mean diffusivity (MD, scale 0-1 in each region of interest. The MRI protocol will include diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

    MRI sequence parameters:

    • DTI: 30 diffusion weighted images will be scanned with different gradient directions (b=1000) and one volume without diffusion weighting

  16. Brain function imaging

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Resting state fMRI(rsfMRI or R-fMRI)- a method of functional brain imaging that can be used to evaluate regional interactions that occur when a subject is not performing an explicit task. This resting brain activity is observed through changes in blood flow in the brain which creates what is referred to as a blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal that can be measured using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

  17. brain function imaging

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Brain photon emission computed tomography (PET-CT) will be conducted using FDG.

  18. Brain network analysis

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    EEG activity will be recorded at resting state , during performing cognitive tasks and following a trans-magnetic stimulation. EEG recording will be performed using a 64 electrodes cap.

  19. Heat/Cold Pain threshold evaluation

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Thermal pain is induced with thermal electrode (thermode). Thermode temperature will initially be set at 32.0°C and gradually increase at a rate of 0.3°C/sec. Participants will be instructed to report when the sensation produced by the thermode changed from heat sensation to pain (heat pain threshold) and when the pain became unbearable (heat pain tolerance). This procedure will be conducted twice for every subject and the mean of the two trials will be calculated. The thermode will be placed on adjacent areas of the forearm for every trial to avoid primary skin hyperalgesia.

  20. Conditioned pain modulation

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    In the current study CPM efficiency will be evaluated by computing the difference in mean pain intensity induced by the Heat test-stimulus (HTS) before and during immersion of non-dominant hand to 10 degrees cold water (the Cold pressor test) (i.e., pain during pre-immersion HTS - pain during post-immersion HTS). Thus, effective pain inhibitory mechanisms are represented by higher (positive) values.

  21. Physical activity

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    The daily physical activity will be objectively tracked by FitBit watch technology. The FitBit watch will be also wired during night for measurements of the time asleep, restless and awake, Fitbit trackers help you understand each night to make the most of each day

  22. Exercise capacity

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Participants will undergo exercise testing using a modified Balke treadmill protocol and continuous expired gas analysis. Resting and exercise vital signs will monitored continuously. The exercise duration and exercise-limiting symptoms will be recorded. The peak VO2, VCO2 and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) will be averaged over the last 15 seconds of the exercise test. The ventilatory equivalent (VE/VCO2 slope) will be calculated from start of exercise to the end of exercise.

  23. Inflammatory cytokines

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Blood Tests will include: IL-1, IL-6, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, CRP.

  24. CD4 number

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    CD4 number (cells per ml) .Using a 4-color FACS CD4 number will be evaluated. Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be isolated using density gradient centrifugation and will behed 3 times in 1640 RPMI medium. Cells will be frozen in freezing medium and kept in liquid nitrogen until thawed for analysis.

    PBMCs will be will behed twice in PBS with 3% FCS. 1X10^5 cells will be resuspended in 100 microliter PBS contatining CD4,CD8, CD25,CD28, CD56, CD16, CD3 conjugated colored antibodies.

  25. CD8 number

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    CD8 number (cells per ml) .Using a 4-color FACS CD8 number will be evaluated. Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be isolated using density gradient centrifugation and will behed 3 times in 1640 RPMI medium. Cells will be frozen in freezing medium and kept in liquid nitrogen until thawed for analysis.

    PBMCs will be will behed twice in PBS with 3% FCS. 1X10^5 cells will be resuspended in 100 microliter PBS contatining CD4,CD8, CD25,CD28, CD56, CD16, CD3 conjugated colored antibodies.

  26. CD4:CD8 ratio

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    CD4:CD8 number (ratio) .Using a 4-color FACS CD4:CD8 number will be evaluated. Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be isolated using density gradient centrifugation and will behed 3 times in 1640 RPMI medium. Cells will be frozen in freezing medium and kept in liquid nitrogen until thawed for analysis.

    PBMCs will be will behed twice in PBS with 3% FCS. 1X10^5 cells will be resuspended in 100 microliter PBS contatining CD4,CD8, CD25,CD28, CD56, CD16, CD3 conjugated colored antibodies.

  27. CD8+CD28null

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    CD8+CD28null number (cells/ml) .Using a 4-color FACS CD8+CD28null number will be evaluated.

    Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be isolated using density gradient centrifugation and will behed 3 times in 1640 RPMI medium. Cells will be frozen in freezing medium and kept in liquid nitrogen until thawed for analysis.

    PBMCs will be will behed twice in PBS with 3% FCS. 1X10^5 cells will be resuspended in 100 microliter PBS contatining CD4,CD8, CD25,CD28, CD56, CD16, CD3 conjugated colored antibodies.

  28. Naïve B-Cells number

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    B cell number (cells/ml) .Using a 4-color FACS B cells number will be evaluated.

    Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be isolated using density gradient centrifugation and will behed 3 times in 1640 RPMI medium. Cells will be frozen in freezing medium and kept in liquid nitrogen until thawed for analysis.

    PBMCs will be will behed twice in PBS with 3% FCS. 1X10^5 cells will be resuspended in 100 microliter PBS contatining CD4,CD8, CD25,CD28, CD56, CD16, CD3 conjugated colored antibodies.

  29. CD4CD25 positive number

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    CD4CD25 cell number (cells/ml) .Using a 4-color FACS CD4CD25 number will be evaluated.

    Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) will be isolated using density gradient centrifugation and will behed 3 times in 1640 RPMI medium. Cells will be frozen in freezing medium and kept in liquid nitrogen until thawed for analysis.

    PBMCs will be will behed twice in PBS with 3% FCS. 1X10^5 cells will be resuspended in 100 microliter PBS contatining CD4,CD8, CD25,CD28, CD56, CD16, CD3 conjugated colored antibodies.

  30. Microbiome

    Time frame: baseline, at 3 months, at 6 months

    Microbiome evaluation method: Using our cutting-edge facilities, 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) next-generation sequencing of fecal samples will be performed to identify bacteria present in the gut. 16S rRNA gene sequencing is a well-established method for studying phylogeny and taxonomy (the description, identification and evolutionary classification) of samples from complex microbial environments that are difficult to study.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center

Other Gov

Registry information

Official study title

Hyperbaric Oxygen vs. Standard Pharmaceutical Therapies for Fibromyalgia Syndrome - Prospective, Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial

Acronym: FMSRCT

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Oct 30, 2017
Registry last updated
Apr 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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