Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Dry Eye Disease With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

NCT ID: NCT06544447

Last Updated: 2024-08-09

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Total Enrollment

135 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-06-01

Study Completion Date

2024-10-01

Brief Summary

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Objective: To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for the patients with dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction.

Methods: We enrolled 270 patients at Beijing Tongren Hospital. All treatments were self-administered by the patients at home after training at the hospital. Patients completed questionnaires at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.

OSDI score, TBUT, OPAS, NPSI-eye, and Schirmer I expressibility and secretion score to evaluate the therapeutic effects. A difference of P \< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Dry Eye

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Dry Eye Disease With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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taVNS group

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

taVNS

Intervention Type DEVICE

taVNS device (Elmmedicare, EC100, Shenzhen, China) was used to apply stimulation for patients. Stimulation parameters comprised an electrical current of 1 mA at a frequency of 20 Hz, with a waveform width of 1 ms. Repurposed off-the-shelf devices were utilized for this purpose, with the stimulator generating single square-wave pulses lasting 1 ms each. Enhancing conductivity was achieved by wiping the ear with tap water.

The electrodes were placed on the cymba conchae and concha around the affected ear, which is the region of rich vagus nerve branch distribution. Patients in control group were applied using the same stimulator, stimulation parameters and same sessions. However, the electrodes were placed on the antihelix around the affected ear, which is the region of few vagus nerve branch distribution.

Hyaluronic acid eye drops

Intervention Type DRUG

Participants in both groups received hyaluronic acid eye drops (HYLO COMOD® eye drops, Ursapharm, Ltd., Germany) with the treatment of 3 times a day.

Control Group

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

taVNS

Intervention Type DEVICE

taVNS device (Elmmedicare, EC100, Shenzhen, China) was used to apply stimulation for patients. Stimulation parameters comprised an electrical current of 1 mA at a frequency of 20 Hz, with a waveform width of 1 ms. Repurposed off-the-shelf devices were utilized for this purpose, with the stimulator generating single square-wave pulses lasting 1 ms each. Enhancing conductivity was achieved by wiping the ear with tap water.

The electrodes were placed on the cymba conchae and concha around the affected ear, which is the region of rich vagus nerve branch distribution. Patients in control group were applied using the same stimulator, stimulation parameters and same sessions. However, the electrodes were placed on the antihelix around the affected ear, which is the region of few vagus nerve branch distribution.

Hyaluronic acid eye drops

Intervention Type DRUG

Participants in both groups received hyaluronic acid eye drops (HYLO COMOD® eye drops, Ursapharm, Ltd., Germany) with the treatment of 3 times a day.

Interventions

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taVNS

taVNS device (Elmmedicare, EC100, Shenzhen, China) was used to apply stimulation for patients. Stimulation parameters comprised an electrical current of 1 mA at a frequency of 20 Hz, with a waveform width of 1 ms. Repurposed off-the-shelf devices were utilized for this purpose, with the stimulator generating single square-wave pulses lasting 1 ms each. Enhancing conductivity was achieved by wiping the ear with tap water.

The electrodes were placed on the cymba conchae and concha around the affected ear, which is the region of rich vagus nerve branch distribution. Patients in control group were applied using the same stimulator, stimulation parameters and same sessions. However, the electrodes were placed on the antihelix around the affected ear, which is the region of few vagus nerve branch distribution.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Hyaluronic acid eye drops

Participants in both groups received hyaluronic acid eye drops (HYLO COMOD® eye drops, Ursapharm, Ltd., Germany) with the treatment of 3 times a day.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Age \>=18 and Age \<=65.
2. Clinical diagnosis of dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction.

Exclusion Criteria

1. History of depression, tumors, thyroid disease, diabetes, cardiac diseases.
2. History of Otorhinolaryngology surgery.
3. Pregnant or lactating women.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Beijing Tongren Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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China Beijing TongRen Hospital, Capital Medical University Beijing, China

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Dong Wu, Doctor

Role: CONTACT

8613810988682

Haihong Lian, Doctor

Role: CONTACT

8618811612190

Facility Contacts

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Dong Wu, Doctor

Role: primary

8613810988682

Other Identifiers

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taVNS-DE-2024

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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