The Role of Neurofilament Light (NfL) in Patients With Hydrocephalus

NCT ID: NCT05399602

Last Updated: 2025-10-02

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

NA

Total Enrollment

41 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-12-07

Study Completion Date

2025-09-27

Brief Summary

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Neurofilament Light Chain Protein (NfL) has been found by many studies as a sensitive biomarker of neuronal damage from several reasons, e.g. neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.), inflamation (HIV) or trauma. Its role as biomarker thus offers a possibility to predict and manage diseases associated with neuronal damage. Therefore our aim is to investigate the changes in level of NfL in hydrocephalus and to find its role in management of treatment in hydrocephalus.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Hydrocephalus Brain Damage General Anesthetics Toxicity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

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Study group A

Patients with diagnosed hydrocephalus undergoing surgery (VP shunt placement) in general anestezia. Before surgery patients undergo lumbar puncture or external lumbar drainage placement to confirmate the diagnosis and responsivity to VP shunt placement.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Lumbar puncture

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Standardized lumbar puncture in L3/4 or L4/5 in diagnosis of hydrocephalus and CSF sampling (sample 1 in NfL level measurement)

External lumbar drainage

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

External lumbar drainage placement for assessing responsivity of external derivation of CSF. It is test of responsivity to ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement

Lumbar infusion test

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Diagnostic test accompanying the first lumbar puncture made as i diagnostic test of hydrocephalus. Based on infusion of saline by 90 mL per hour with measurement of CSF pressure each 1 minute and then count of so-called Rout (index).

Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Surgical procedure based on implantation a thin catheter into brain lateral ventricle (placed through a burrhole from Kocher point) and connection to prechamber and valve (placed behind the ear under skin) and similar thin catheter pushed under skin of neck, chest and abdomen (where put intraperitoneally).

General Anesthesia

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Standardized combinated general anesthesia with combination of i.v. and inhalated drugs according the protocol. Given by anesthesiologist.

Prechamber puncture

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Puncture of prechamber (place behind the ear under the skin) by thin needle and aspiration of 5 mL of CSF (5 days, 1 month a 2 months after surgery)

Blood sampling #1

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 24 hours prior surgery

Blood sampling #2

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 24 hours after surgery

Blood sampling #3

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 5 days after surgery

Blood sampling #4 and #5

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 1 and 2 months after surgery (only in interventional group)

Study group B

Patients without diagnosed hydrocephalus undergoing short spinal surgery without affecting dural sac (e.g. anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or lumbar disc herniation or lumbar decompression) in general anestezia.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

General Anesthesia

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Standardized combinated general anesthesia with combination of i.v. and inhalated drugs according the protocol. Given by anesthesiologist.

Blood sampling #1

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 24 hours prior surgery

Blood sampling #2

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 24 hours after surgery

Blood sampling #3

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 5 days after surgery

Interventions

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Lumbar puncture

Standardized lumbar puncture in L3/4 or L4/5 in diagnosis of hydrocephalus and CSF sampling (sample 1 in NfL level measurement)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

External lumbar drainage

External lumbar drainage placement for assessing responsivity of external derivation of CSF. It is test of responsivity to ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Lumbar infusion test

Diagnostic test accompanying the first lumbar puncture made as i diagnostic test of hydrocephalus. Based on infusion of saline by 90 mL per hour with measurement of CSF pressure each 1 minute and then count of so-called Rout (index).

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement

Surgical procedure based on implantation a thin catheter into brain lateral ventricle (placed through a burrhole from Kocher point) and connection to prechamber and valve (placed behind the ear under skin) and similar thin catheter pushed under skin of neck, chest and abdomen (where put intraperitoneally).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

General Anesthesia

Standardized combinated general anesthesia with combination of i.v. and inhalated drugs according the protocol. Given by anesthesiologist.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Prechamber puncture

Puncture of prechamber (place behind the ear under the skin) by thin needle and aspiration of 5 mL of CSF (5 days, 1 month a 2 months after surgery)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling #1

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 24 hours prior surgery

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling #2

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 24 hours after surgery

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling #3

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 5 days after surgery

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Blood sampling #4 and #5

Blood sampling to get level of NfL from standarized percutaneous vein puncture by thin needle 1 and 2 months after surgery (only in interventional group)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* In group A:

* Patients with diagnosed communicating hydrocephalus
* MMSE \> 10 points
* Absence of any structural laesion on MRI or CT
* Accepted Informed consent
* In group B:

* MMSE \> 10 points
* Absence of any structural laesion on MRI or CT
* Accepted Informed consent
* Elective spinal surgery without affecting dural sac and the spinal cord
* Surgery shorter than 120 minutes of lasting the general anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria

* Non-communicating hydrocephalus
* Structural laesion on MRI or CT (tumour, contusion, aneurysm)
* MMSE \< 10 points
* Life-expectancy shorter than 1 year
* Pre-existing other type of demetia (m. Alzheimer, vascular dementia)
* Surgery lasting more than 120 minutes
* Blood loss more than 500 ml
* Opening of dural sac (liquororhea)
* Adverse events during general anestesia: MAP\<60 mm Hg more than 5 minutes, arythmia with need for farmacological treatment
Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University Hospital Hradec Kralove

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Miroslav Cihlo

Principal investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Miroslav Cihlo, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University Hospital Hradec Kralove

Locations

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University Hospital Hradec Kralove

Hradec Králové, , Czechia

Site Status

Countries

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Czechia

Other Identifiers

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MC00000001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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