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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01667250

Non-Invasive Neurostimulation for the Prevention of Chronic Migraine

The purpose of this multi-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled pilot study is to study feasibility and collect preliminary clinical data related to the safety and clinical benefits of daily use of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation with the GammaCore device for the prevention of chronic migraine, and to support the development and approval of a larger pivotal study.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UCSF Headache Center, San Francisco, California, United States

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Is between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
  • Has been previously diagnosed as suffering from migraine, in accordance with the ICHD-2 Classification criteria (2nd), with or without aura.
  • Experiences at least 15 headache days per month (over the last 3 months).
  • Has age of onset of migraine less than 50 years old.
  • Agrees not to use any migraine prevention treatments (including Botox injections) and/or medications (exclusive of medications taken for acute relief of migraine symptoms).
  • Is able to provide written Informed Consent
  • Agrees to refrain from changing the type or dosage of any prophylactic medications for indications other than chronic migraine that in the opinion of the clinician may interfere with the study

Exclusion criteria

  • Has a history of aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, brain tumors or significant head trauma.
  • Has a lesion (including lymphadenopathy), dysaesthesia, previous surgery or abnormal anatomy at the GammaCore treatment site.
  • Has known or suspected severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, severe carotid artery disease (e.g. bruits or history of TIA or CVA), congestive heart failure (CHF), known severe coronary artery disease or recent myocardial infarction.
  • 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)
  • Has had a previous bilateral, right, or left cervical vagotomy.
  • Has uncontrolled high blood pressure.
  • 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.
  • Has a history of carotid endarterectomy or vascular neck surgery on the right side.
  • Has been implanted with metal cervical spine hardware or has a metallic implant near the GammaCore stimulation site.
  • Has a recent or repeated history of syncope.
  • Has a recent or repeated history of seizure.
  • Has a known history or suspicion of substance abuse or addiction.
  • Has had a surgery for migraine prevention.
  • Has received Botox injections for migraine prevention within the past 6 months.
  • Has taken medications for migraine prophylaxis in the previous 30 days.
  • In the opinion of the investigator/research staff the subject is incapable of operating the GammaCore device as intended and performing the data collection procedures.
  • Is pregnant, nursing, thinking of becoming pregnant in the next 9 months, or of childbearing years and is unwilling to use an accepted form of birth control.
  • Is participating in any other therapeutic clinical investigation or has participated in a clinical trial in the preceding 30 days.
  • Belongs to a vulnerable population or has any condition such that his or her ability to provide informed consent, comply with follow-up requirements, or provide self-assessments is compromised (e.g., homeless, developmentally disabled, prisoner).
  • Is a relative of or an employee of the investigator or the clinical study site.

Treatment and study plan

gammaCore active device

Device

gammaCore sham device

Device

Primary outcomes

  1. Safety - Number of Participants With Adverse Events

    Time frame: Up to 8 weeks - duration of the Randomized period

    Safety was assessed by collecting Adverse Effects

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean Change in Headache Days

    Time frame: Run-in period (4 weeks no treatment) and Randomized period (8 weeks)

    Mean change in headache days. Change between 4 week run in period to the 8 weeks randomized period.

  2. Total Number of Headache Days Per Arm With Peak Severity of Mild, Moderate, or Severe

    Time frame: Run-in (4 weeks no treatment) and Randomized (8 weeks)

    Peak severity per headache day was reported each headache day in the subject diary. Pain was reported as mild, moderate or severe. Whereas as mild = least severe and severe = most severe.

  3. Use of Pain Relief Medication

    Time frame: Randomized period - 8 weeks

    All abortive headache medication taken during randomized period

  4. Mean Change in Quality of Life Short Form Survey (SF-12)

    Time frame: Run-in (4 weeks) and Randomized period (8 weeks)

    The Quality of Life Short Form Survey (SF-12) is a multipurpose short form survey with 12 questions that are combined, scored and weighted to create two scales that provide glimpses into mental and physical functioning and overall health-related-quality of life. The SF-12 is weighted and summed to provide easily interpretable scales for physical and mental health. Physical and Mental Health Composite Scores (PCS & MCS) are computed using the scores of the twelve questions and range from 0 to 100, where a zero score indicates the lowest level of health measured by the scales and 100 indicates the highest level of health.

    SF-12 were recorded in the subject diary at the Phase 1 follow-up visit (week 4) and during Phase 2 randomized period at week 4 and week 8.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

ElectroCore INC

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Non-Invasive Neurostimulation of the Vagus Nerve With the GammaCore Device for the Prevention of Chronic Migraine

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Aug 17, 2012
Registry last updated
Jun 20, 2018

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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