Tragus Stimulation for POTS Treatment

NCT ID: NCT07163130

Last Updated: 2025-09-09

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 24 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-01-31

Brief Summary

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia characterized by an abnormal cardiovascular response to orthostatic challenges. Individuals afflicted with POTS typically exhibit a heart rate increase of more than 30 beats per minute (bpm) within 10 minutes of assuming an upright posture from a supine or sitting position. This abnormal response is often accompanied by symptoms, such as orthostatic intolerance, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, and, in certain instances, syncope. Lately, there is revived interest in POTS, as it has been quite frequently reported as a manifestation of autonomic dysfunction among patients with long COVID. POTS primarily affects the younger demographic, particularly women, and its pathophysiology appears to be multifactorial, involving autonomic neuropathy, hyperadrenergic state, and inadequate blood volume regulation. Diagnostic criteria commonly include a sustained heart rate increase without significant orthostatic hypotension. The pathophysiological mechanisms of POTS are complex and not fully elucidated. Management strategies encompass lifestyle modifications, exercise programs, and pharmacotherapy, but their efficacy is modest.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is an emerging therapeutic modality in cardiovascular diseases. tVNS has been shown to exert antiadrenergic and anti-inflammatory effects in humans. Recently, tVNS has been tested in experimental and human POTS, leading to improved autonomic function, reduction of anti-autonomic autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines. However, the exact patient characteristics that would identify a patient likely to respond to tVNS as well as further mechanistic and clinical endpoints with tVNS have not been explored.

The aim of this study is to assess and characterize in detail the effect of tVNS in patients with POTS. This is a prospective crossover study in patients with POTS. The expected study duration is approximately 15 months from the time the first subject is enrolled to study termination. Patient enrollment is planned to take place at 3-4 major centers in Greece.

Conditions

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Treatment sequence: Active - Sham

This arm will undergo active treatment first and then (after a wash-out period) sham treatment.

Group Type: OTHER

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is an emerging therapeutic modality in cardiovascular diseases. tVNS has been shown to exert antiadrenergic and anti-inflammatory effects in humans. Recently, tVNS has been tested in experimental and human POTS, leading to improved autonomic function, reduction of anti-autonomic autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines.

Parasym device; Parasym Health, London, United Kingdom Frequency: 20Hz, pulse width: 200μs, amplitude will be individually titrated to 1 mA below the level that caused mild discomfort.

Treatment sequence: Sham - Active

This arm will undergo sham treatment first and then (after a wash-out period) active treatment

Group Type: OTHER

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is an emerging therapeutic modality in cardiovascular diseases. tVNS has been shown to exert antiadrenergic and anti-inflammatory effects in humans. Recently, tVNS has been tested in experimental and human POTS, leading to improved autonomic function, reduction of anti-autonomic autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines.

Parasym device; Parasym Health, London, United Kingdom Frequency: 20Hz, pulse width: 200μs, amplitude will be individually titrated to 1 mA below the level that caused mild discomfort.

Interventions

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is an emerging therapeutic modality in cardiovascular diseases. tVNS has been shown to exert antiadrenergic and anti-inflammatory effects in humans. Recently, tVNS has been tested in experimental and human POTS, leading to improved autonomic function, reduction of anti-autonomic autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines.

Parasym device; Parasym Health, London, United Kingdom Frequency: 20Hz, pulse width: 200μs, amplitude will be individually titrated to 1 mA below the level that caused mild discomfort.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Male or female patients aged ≥18 years
• Diagnosis of POTS, defined as heart rate increase >30 beats/min from supine within 10 minute of standing, in the absence of orthostatic hypotension (>20/10 mm Hg fall in blood pressure), with chronic symptoms (>6 months), and in the absence of other acute causes of orthostatic tachycardia,
• Signed written informed consent by the patient for participation in the study and agreement to comply with the study procedures and the follow-up schedule.

Exclusion Criteria

• Hypertension (>150 mmHg systolic and >100 mmHg diastolic) based on history or findings at screening.
• Orthostatic hypotension (consistent drop in blood pressure >20/10 mmHg with 10 min of standing)
• History or presence of significant neurological, immunological, or hematological disorders
• Cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction within 6 months
• Patients on renal dialysis.
• Life expectancy of <12 months
• Currently pregnant women or women planning on becoming pregnant ≤ 5 months
• Patients with active implants (such as a cardiac pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or a cochlear implant)
• Known channelopathy such as Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome, or Catecholaminergic monomorphic ventricular tachycardia.
• Episodic or permanent complete heart block or 2nd degree atrioventricular block Mobitz 2 or bifascicular block with concurrent 1st degree atrioventricular block
• Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association class IV, defined as shortness of breath at rest, which is refractory to medical treatment (not responding to treatment)
• Inability to comply with the protocol.

• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Vassilios Vassilikos

Professor of Cardiology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Other Identifiers

TREATPOTS3RDCARDIO

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id