Effect of Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Gastric Motor Functions

Launched by MAYO CLINIC · Sep 14, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a treatment called vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) may affect stomach functions in people with epilepsy and depression. Specifically, the researchers want to see if activating the VNS can help the stomach empty food more quickly and adjust to new food better. Participants will be evaluated before starting the treatment and again after three months to see if there are any changes in their stomach's response to a meal.

To be eligible for the study, participants must be at least 18 years old and have epilepsy that doesn’t respond well to medications. They should also be stable in their overall health and able to attend regular check-ups. During the trial, participants can expect to undergo tests that measure how their stomach processes food, and they will need to provide consent to participate. It’s important to note that individuals with certain medical conditions or those who cannot eat eggs (which are part of the testing meal) may not qualify for the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • General criteria
• • 1. Participant must be at least 18 years old.
• • 2. Participant must have the capacity to provide written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization.
• • 3. Participant is diagnosed with drug Resistant Epilepsy and previously underwent implantation of VNS.
• • and/or
• • 4. Participant is diagnosed with treatment-refractory depression and previously underwent implantation of VNS.
• • 5. Participant has completed the REVEAL CSP and has been stabilized by their care team on a stable VNS setting
• • 6. Apart from epilepsy or depression, participant should be medically and neurologically stable.
• • 7. Participant is able to complete regular office visits and telephone appointments including the imaging session in accordance with the study protocol requirements.
• • 8. Participant that is of childbearing potential must be adequately protected from conception or willing to use an acceptable method of birth control over the entire study duration (acceptable birth control includes abstinence, barrier methods, hormonal methods, sterilization and fertility awareness).
• • 9. Participant must be enrolled in an active health insurance plan that will cover the costs associated with standard health care services and injuries.
• • Exclusion Criteria: GENERAL criteria
• • 1. Participant has a prior implantable stimulation device other than a VNS device for the clinical indication of refractory focal Epilepsy or for depression.
• • 2. Participant currently uses or during the study is expected to use short-wave diathermy, microwave, diathermy, or therapeutic ultrasound diathermy.
• • 3. Participant has a diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder as defined by DSM-5 without sustained remission of 12 months or longer.
• • 4. Patient participated in another drug or device trial within the preceding 30 days (other than REVEAL studies).
• • 5. Participant has been hospitalized for a psychiatric condition within the preceding 6 months or has had a history of psychosis within the preceding two years (excluding post-ictal psychosis).
• • 6. Participant has experienced unprovoked status epilepticus in the preceding year.
• • 7. Participant is not able or willing to use their dominant arm, or either upper arm circumference is greater than 50 cm.
• • 8. Any other clinical reasons deemed by the investigators of the study for which the participant would not be an appropriate candidate for the study, such as peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension (OH), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), uncontrolled obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or uncontrolled diabetes or pregnancy
• • 9. Participant with vocal cord paralysis
• • 10. Participant cannot speak and read English.
• • 11. Participant is pregnant.
• • 12. Prohibited Therapy During Study Period: We will exclude patients on immunosuppressants, beta blockers, anticholinergics, and clonidine. Consultation with primary providers and amending some of these therapies may be allowed only if clinically indicated. In that case, participants will have to be stable on their new medication for at least one month prior to implant.
• • 13. A body weight of over 350 pounds or 159 kilograms due to equipment limitations used in the measurements of gastric accommodation and emptying.
• • 14. An inability to eat eggs whether due to an allergy, intolerance, or strong dislike. The gastric emptying test meal contains eggs that are labeled with radioisotope. Other food substitutions for the toast, butter and milk may be made only if prior approval is given by Dr. Camilleri.
• • 15. Any other factor that may impact participant safety or compliance as per PI.
• Since participants with pVNS will be recruited from the CSP study at U Minnesota, it is important to specify the inclusion and exclusion criteria for participants with drug-resistant epilepsy or drug-resistant depression who entered the CSP study:
• • Inclusion Criteria for Participants With Major Depressive Disorder That Have a Previously Implanted VNS Device
• • 1. Participant must be at least 18 years old.
• • 2. Participant must have the capacity to provide written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization.
• • 3. Participant must be enrolled in an active health insurance plan that will cover the costs associated with standard health care services and injuries.
• • 4. Participant must have been previously implanted with a VNS device for the clinical indication of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
• • 5. Participant must have a score on the baseline administration of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) of ≥ 22.
• • 6. Participant must be able and willing to complete the evaluations and procedures described in the study protocol.
• • 7. Participant must be able and willing to follow the stipulations regarding concomitant medications and excluded medications described in section 5.3 of the study protocol.
• • 8. Participant that is of childbearing potential must be adequately protected from conception or willing to use an acceptable method of birth control over the entire study duration (acceptable birth control includes abstinence, barrier methods, hormonal methods, sterilization and fertility awareness).
• • Exclusion Criteria for Participants With Major Depressive Disorder That Have a Previously Implanted VNS Device
• • 1. Participant has a prior implantable stimulation device, other than a VNS device for the clinical indication of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
• • 2. Participant currently uses or is expected during the study to use short-wave diathermy, microwave, diathermy, or therapeutic ultrasound diathermy.
• • 3. Participant is judged by the investigator to be acutely suicidal (e.g. has made specific plans or preparations to commit suicide or as indicated by the Sheehan Suicidality Tracking Scale) within the last 30 days prior to study enrollment.
• • 4. Participant has made a suicide attempt within the previous 6 months from study enrollment.
• • 5. Participant has a history of one or more schizophrenia-spectrum or other psychotic disorders including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or a current or lifetime major depressive episode that includes psychotic features (commonly referred to as psychotic depression) according to the MINI criteria.
• • 6. Participant has a history of significant borderline or severe personality disorder as determined by clinical judgment.
• • 7. Participant has an active primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive, eating, or post-traumatic stress disorder based on the MINI criteria.
• • 8. Participant has a diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder as defined by DSM-5 without sustained remission of 12 months or longer.
• • 9. Participant has a presence of any type of dementia, major neurocognitive disorder, or cognitive or psychiatric deficit as determined by clinical judgment.
• • 10. Participant has a history of rapid cycling bipolar disorder I or II.
• • 11. Participant currently receives treatment with another investigational device or investigational drug other than the REVEAL study (or a REVEAL ancillary project or sub-study) or has participated in another drug or device trial within the preceding 30 days before enrollment.
• • 12. Participant is not able or willing to use their dominant arm, or either upper arm circumference is greater than 50 cm.
• • 13. Participant does not speak English.
• • 14. Participant is pregnant.
• • 15. Any other clinical reasons deemed by the investigators of the study for which the participant would not be an appropriate candidate for the study, such as peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension (OH), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), uncontrolled obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or uncontrolled diabetes.
• • Inclusion Criteria for Participants With Drug Resistant Epilepsy That Have a Previously Implanted VNS Device
• • 1. Participant must be at least 18 years old.
• • 2. Participant must have the capacity to provide written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization.
• • 3. Participant must be enrolled in an active health insurance plan that will cover the costs associated with standard health care services and injuries.
• • 4. Participant must have been previously implanted with a VNS device for the clinical indication of drug resistant epilepsy.
• • 5. Participant has not had demonstrable benefit from the implanted VNS device in terms of epilepsy (seizure frequency or seizure severity) or related epilepsy comorbidities (mood, cognition, quality of life), with no definite improvement or suboptimal improvement in seizure control.
• • 6. Apart from epilepsy, the participant should be medically and neurologically stable.
• • 7. Participant must be able and willing to complete the evaluations and procedures described in the study protocol.
• • 8. Participant must be able and willing to follow the stipulations regarding concomitant medications and excluded medications described in section 5.3 of the study protocol.
• • 9. Participant that is of childbearing potential must be adequately protected from conception or willing to use an acceptable method of birth control over the entire study duration (acceptable birth control includes abstinence, barrier methods, hormonal methods, sterilization and fertility awareness).
• • Exclusion Criteria for Participants With Drug Resistant Epilepsy That Have a Previously Implanted VNS Device
• • 1. Participant has demonstrable benefit from implanted VNS device in terms of epilepsy (seizure frequency or seizure severity) or epilepsy comorbidity (mood, cognition, or quality of life), with seizure freedom or clinical benefit.
• • 2. Participant has a prior implantable stimulation device, other than a VNS device for the clinical indication of refractory focal Epilepsy.
• • 3. Participant currently uses or is expected during the study to use short-wave diathermy, microwave, diathermy, or therapeutic ultrasound diathermy.
• • 4. Participant has been hospitalized for a psychiatric condition within the preceding 6 months or has had a history of psychosis within the preceding two years (excluding postictal psychosis).
• • 5. Participant has experienced unprovoked status epilepticus in the preceding year.
• • 6. Participant has a diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder as defined by DSM-5 without sustained remission of 12 months or longer.
• • 7. Participant currently receives treatment with another investigational device or investigational drug other than the REVEAL study (or a REVEAL ancillary project or sub-study) or has participated in another drug or device trial within the preceding 30 days before enrollment.
• • 8. Participant is not able or willing to use their dominant arm, or either upper arm circumference is greater than 50 cm.
• • 9. Participant does not speak English.
• • 10. Participant is pregnant.
• • 11. Any other clinical reasons deemed by the investigators of the study for which the participant would not be an appropriate candidate for the study, such as peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension (OH), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), uncontrolled obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or uncontrolled diabetes.