Immune-Pineal Axis Function in Chronic Tension-Type Headache

Overview

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.

Full Title of Study: “Immune-Pineal Axis Function in Chronic Tension-Type Headache: Noradrenergic Modulation and the Effect of Electroacupuncture”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: Single (Investigator)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: October 2013

Detailed Description

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.

Interventions

  • Device: Electroacupuncture
    • Eletroacupuncture performed using acupuncture needles.
  • Device: Placebo Sham
    • Placebo Sham is performed using electrodes, without electrical stimulation. Lights and sounds were identical to active treatment.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: Electroacupuncture
    • All patients will receive 10 electroacupuncture sessions.
  • Sham Comparator: Placebo Sham
    • All patients will receive 10 placebo sham sessions.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
    • Time Frame: An expected average of 3 months. (At baseline and at the end of each intervention period).
    • The intensity of pain was measured by a 10 cm VAS. The scores range from no pain (zero) to the worst possible pain (10 cm).

Secondary Measures

  • Headache Impact Test (HIT-6)
    • Time Frame: An expected average of 3 months. (At baseline and at the end of each intervention period).
    • This test was developed in 2004, and has equivalent psychometric properties in nine languages, including Portuguese. It consists of six questions that assess the impact of headache on the ability to work, study, home and in social situations.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

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.

Gender Eligibility: Female

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 60 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
  • Collaborator
    • Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Wolnei Caumo, MD, PhD, Professor and coordinator of Pain & Neuromodulation Lab – Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Wolnei Caumo, MD, PhD, Study Chair, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
    • Mônica Chassot, Principal Investigator, Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
    • Francislea C. Sehn, Principal Investigator, Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
    • Rafael Vercelino, Principal Investigator, Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre

Clinical trials entries are delivered from the US National Institutes of Health and are not reviewed separately by this site. Please see the identifier information above for retrieving further details from the government database.

At TrialBulletin.com, we keep tabs on over 200,000 clinical trials in the US and abroad, using medical data supplied directly by the US National Institutes of Health. Please see the About and Contact page for details.