Immune-Pineal Axis Function in Chronic Tension-Type Headache

NCT ID: NCT01954277

Last Updated: 2013-11-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2/PHASE3

Total Enrollment

34 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2010-10-31

Study Completion Date

2013-11-30

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to determine whether electroacupuncture is effective in the treatment of chronic tension-type headache, measured by Headache Impact Test, Visual Analogue Scale and biomarkers.

Detailed Description

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Tension-type headache can be defined as a constant sensation of pressure or heaviness, and is a highly-prevalent condition in the health services. The objective of the present study is to investigate the function of the immuno-pineal axis in chronic tension headache, focussed on the neuro-immune regulatory dysfunction. In addition, the effect of neuro-stimulation (electroacupuncture) on the function of this axis will also be studied.

This is a clinical Trial study, randomised, in parallel, cross-over with a blinded assessor, and with a sham placebo control.

The study will be carried out in the Clinical Research Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), with women aged between 18 and 60 years old. The participants will respond to questionnaires at the beginning and end of each therapeutic intervention, with 24-hour urine, blood and saliva collection. The therapeutic intervention will include: 10 electroacupuncture sessions and 10 sham placebo sessions. The measurements taken will be: quality of life, depression, impact of headache on daily life, sleep quality, chronotropic types, immuno-inflammatory mediators, levels of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, and salivary cortisol.

Through these interventions it is hoped that patients will present an improvement in their pain presentation, quality of life and sleep, as well as central autonomic regulation. Evidence for these hypotheses will support a minimally-invasive treatment, with few side-effects and a low cost.

Conditions

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Chronic Tension-Type Headache

Keywords

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Chronic Tension-Type Headache Electroacupuncture Headache Impact BDNF TNF

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators

Study Groups

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Electroacupuncture

All patients will receive 10 electroacupuncture sessions.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Electroacupuncture

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eletroacupuncture performed using acupuncture needles.

Placebo Sham

All patients will receive 10 placebo sham sessions.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Placebo Sham

Intervention Type DEVICE

Placebo Sham is performed using electrodes, without electrical stimulation. Lights and sounds were identical to active treatment.

Interventions

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Electroacupuncture

Eletroacupuncture performed using acupuncture needles.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Placebo Sham

Placebo Sham is performed using electrodes, without electrical stimulation. Lights and sounds were identical to active treatment.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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Electrical acupuncture Placebo Sham

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Women,
* Aged between 18 and 60 years old,
* Providing informed consent to participate in the study,
* Literate,
* Clinical diagnosis of Chronic Tension-Type Headache according to the International Headache Society.

Exclusion Criteria

* Psychiatric or neurologic disorder that unable patient to consent and follow study protocol,
* De-compensated systemic disease,
* Chronic inflammatory disease (e.g. Systemic Lupus Erythematous, Rheumatoid Arthritis),
* HIV.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Wolnei Caumo

MD, PhD, Professor and coordinator of Pain & Neuromodulation Lab

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Wolnei Caumo, MD, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

Mônica Chassot

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre

Francislea C. Sehn

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre

Rafael Vercelino

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre

Locations

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Hospital de Clinicas e Porto Alegre (HCPA)

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Site Status

Countries

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Brazil

Other Identifiers

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09-259

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id