Brain Response to Single Dose of Pregabalin in Fibromyalgia
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| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02639533 |
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Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : December 24, 2015
Last Update Posted : February 8, 2018
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Fibromyalgia syndrome represents a "spectrum disorder" characterized by widespread chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood and cognitive alterations. The most accepted models explaining the causes of the disease have focused on the reduced pain inhibitory systems activity, that allow low intensity stimuli to be processed easier, and that finally amplify pain stimuli. One of the interventions approved for Fibromyalgia is Pregabalin, which demonstrated to be effective reducing pain. Different studies in animals have shown that it works reducing the liberation of neuronal messengers, which slow the conduction of pain signals. Although studies in humans have confirmed Pregabalin clinical benefits, there are still few studies aiming to explain how it actually works in patients with fibromyalgia, though.
A better understanding of the mechanisms by which Pregabalin reduces pain in patients with fibromyalgia would allow designing new interventions to enhance its clinical effects. Thus, the investigators propose to study in real-time the electrical, vascular and hormonal response of the brain of patients with fibromyalgia who receive a single dose of Pregabalin. The vascular response will be assessed using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging techniques. The electrical response will be assessed using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). The hormonal response will be assessed in blood, measuring neurotrophins (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) and inflammatory mediators (Tumor Necrosis Factor). These responses will be studied in consideration of the patients' characteristics that will be assessed using validated scales.
Taken into account the above considerations, a crossover, double-blinded randomized clinical trial is proposed. In the investigators' study, patients and healthy volunteers will be asked to visit the investigators' laboratory in three opportunities: one for a baseline assessment, and the other two to test the effects of either Pregabalin 150 mg PO or Placebo. All participants will eventually receive both, Pregabalin and Placebo. In each visit a brain hemodynamic, electrical, hormonal and clinical evaluation will be performed.
| Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Fibromyalgia | Drug: Pregabalin Other: Placebo | Phase 2 Phase 3 |
A crossover, double-blinded randomized clinical trial is proposed. The investigators will recruit literate adult females aging 18 to 65 years old; fulfilling the diagnosis criteria for fibromyalgia according to the American College of Rheumatology 2010; with mean pain ≥6 in the verbal analog scale; who speak Brazilian Portuguese; and were able to perform the three visits. Female adult participants without chronic pain will also be recruited. Participants with severe psychiatric disorders that would limit consenting; neurologic deficits; decompensated systemic disease or chronic inflammatory disorders (Systemic Erythematous Lupus or Rheumatoid arthritis); contraindications for TMS; and those with previous use of Pregabalin will be excluded.
In the investigators' study, participants will be asked to visit the investigators' laboratory in three opportunities: one for a baseline assessment, and the other two to test the effects of either Pregabalin 150 mg PO or Placebo. All participants will eventually receive both, Pregabalin and Placebo. In each visit a brain hemodynamic, electrical, hormonal and clinical evaluation will be performed.
In the first visit, after explaining the research, solving doubts and signing the informed consent, participants will be randomized to an allocation sequence (either Pregabalin in the second or in the third visit). Then, a blood sample will be gathered and participants will be asked to fill some questionnaires to understand better their pain, and its impact on their quality of life (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), Anxiety (State/Trait Anxiety Inventory), Depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory II), Catastrophizing thinking (Pain Catastrophizing Scale - PCS), Sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and resiliency. Then, a fingertapping task will be performed while assessing hemodynamic changes using fNIRS. After that, heat perception will be tested using quantitative sensory testing (QST) and Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) with cold. Also, the pain pressure threshold (PPT) using a digital algometer will be evaluated. Finally, cortical excitability parameters (motor evoked potentials, intracortical facilitation and inhibition, and cortical silent period) will be determined using paired pulsed TMS.
In the second visit, according to the randomized allocation participants will receive either Pregabalin 150 mg PO or Placebo. Then, the M.I.N.I. International Neuropsychiatric Interview will be performed. One hour after taking the medication, the fNIRS, QST, CPM, PPT and TMS evaluations will be repeated, and a new blood sample will be collected. In the third visit, a blood sample will be gathered, followed by administration of the corresponding intervention according to the randomized allocation. Then, the pain level, PCS, STAI and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) will be asked again. One hour after taking the medication, the fNIRS, QST, CPM, PPT and TMS evaluations will be repeated, and a final blood sample will be collected. Participants' guess about blinding will be assessed after each intervention. All evaluators will remain blind to the allocation.
| Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
| Actual Enrollment : | 27 participants |
| Allocation: | Randomized |
| Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
| Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
| Primary Purpose: | Basic Science |
| Official Title: | Pregabalin Acute Effects on Cortical Excitability, Psychophysical Parameters, and Serum Markers of Neuroplastic Processes in Fibromyalgia: a Placebo Controlled, Double Blinded, Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial |
| Study Start Date : | December 2014 |
| Actual Primary Completion Date : | January 2017 |
| Actual Study Completion Date : | January 2017 |
| Arm | Intervention/treatment |
|---|---|
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Experimental: Pregabalin
Pregabalin 150 mg PO single dose
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Drug: Pregabalin
Pregabalin 150 mg PO, single dose. |
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Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo (a pill of same physical characteristics as the one used for the experimental arm, containing starch) PO single dose
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Other: Placebo
Pill of same physical characteristics as the one used for the intervention, containing starch only. Administered PO in single dose. |
- Cortical Excitability: Intracortical Inhibition. [ Time Frame: 1 hour after intervention ]Cortical excitability parameters assessed non-invasively using paired-pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Intracortical inhibition will be assessed using a conditioning stimuli of 80% of the motor threshold (MT) and a testing pulse of 120% the of the MT, with interstimuli interval (isi) of 2 and 4 microseconds. The Intracortical Inhibition corresponds to the ratio between the resultant potential and the motor evoked potential.
- Cortical hemodynamics: Oxy-hemoglobin concentration (mM/L) [ Time Frame: 1 hour after intervention ]Cortical hemodynamics assessed non-invasively using functional near infrared spectroscopy. Thanks to spectroscopy principles, it is possible to safety use a light beam in the infrared spectrum to infer the concentration of hemoglobin when bonded to oxygen. Its concentration is calculated in mM/L.
- Pain [ Time Frame: 1 hour after intervention ]Assessed with the Visual Analog Scale
- Heat Pain Threshold [ Time Frame: 1 hour after intervention ]Assessed using quantitative sensory testing. Briefly, a thermode placed in subjects forearm is heated controlled by a computer. Subjects are instructed to report when perceiving the first pain. Temperatures in Celcius degrees are recorded.
- Pressure Pain Threshold [ Time Frame: 1 hour after intervention ]Assessed using a digital algometer. Briefly, progressive pressure is applied in subjects forearm until the first perception of pain is reported. The pressure of the first perception of pain are recorded in Kg/cm^2 .
- Maximal Heat Pain Tolerance [ Time Frame: 1 hour after intervention ]Assessed using quantitative sensory testing. Briefly, the thermode placed in subjects forearm is heated until subject reports maximum tolerated pain. A maximal temperature of 52 Celcius has been previously programmed for the device to stop and cool down in order to avoid unintended injuries.
- Conditioned pain modulation [ Time Frame: 1 hour after intervention ]The protocol for heat pain threshold is repeated while the contralateral hand is placed on iced water. The pain due to heat and cold reported on a Visual Analog Scale are recorded.
- Serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 2 hours after intervention ]Blood samples will be gathered at baseline and 2 hours after receiving the intervention to quantify the serum BDNF concentration (ng/mL).
- Serum Protein S100B [ Time Frame: Baseline and 2 hours after intervention ]Blood samples will be gathered at baseline and 2 hours after receiving the intervention to quantify the serum S100B concentration (pg/mL).
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| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
| Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Fulfill ACR 2010 criteria for fibromyalgia diagnosis.
- Literate.
- Mean VAS for pain higher than 6 in the last 3 months.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnancy or inadequate use of validated contraceptive method.
- Contraindications for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
- Alcohol of drugs abuse in the last 6 months.
- Any severe neurological, neurosurgical, cardiac, endocrinological, or oncological disease (current or past).
- Decompensated chronic systemic disease.
- Previous use of Pregabalin.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02639533
| Principal Investigator: | Wolnei Caumo, MD, PhD | HCPA |
| Responsible Party: | Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02639533 |
| Other Study ID Numbers: |
14-0624 |
| First Posted: | December 24, 2015 Key Record Dates |
| Last Update Posted: | February 8, 2018 |
| Last Verified: | December 2015 |
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fibromyalgia pregabalin cortical excitability functional near infrared spectroscopy |
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Fibromyalgia Myofascial Pain Syndromes Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Nervous System Diseases Pregabalin Analgesics Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents |
Physiological Effects of Drugs Anticonvulsants Calcium Channel Blockers Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Calcium-Regulating Hormones and Agents Anti-Anxiety Agents Tranquilizing Agents Central Nervous System Depressants Psychotropic Drugs |