Efficacy in iNPH Shunting (PENS) Trial (PENS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05081128 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : October 18, 2021
Last Update Posted : May 19, 2023
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (INPH) | Device: programmable CSF shunt valve | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 100 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | The primary intervention will be the initiation of the randomized initial shunt valve opening pressure setting to create a delayed treatment group in half of the study patients. Randomization will be to active or placebo (closed) shunt settings. At the time of the standard three-month evaluation, all subjects will be similarly non-invasively adjusted to bring all subjects in both groups to the active setting while maintaining blinding of the subjects. All settings will be verified by the adjusting neurosurgeon. |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Placebo-Controlled Efficacy in iNPH Shunting (PENS) Trial |
Actual Study Start Date : | May 18, 2022 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | May 2026 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | August 2027 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Open Shunt Group
FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard, programmable CSF shunt valve setting to active (open shunt group)(setting 4)(110 mm H2O) at time of shunt implantation
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Device: programmable CSF shunt valve
Brain shunt surgery using a programmable CSF shunt valve
Other Name: FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard |
Sham Comparator: Closed Shunt Group
FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard, programmable CSF shunt valve setting to placebo (closed shunt group)(setting 8)(>400 mm H2O) at time of shunt implantation followed by setting to active (setting 4) (110 mm H2O) three months after the procedure.
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Device: programmable CSF shunt valve
Brain shunt surgery using a programmable CSF shunt valve
Other Name: FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard |
- Change in Gait velocity [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months ]Evaluation of CSF shunting in iNPH patients through a group comparison of change from baseline at three months between active and placebo-controlled groups, using the primary endpoint of gait velocity (in meters per second).
- Change in Gait velocity [ Time Frame: Baseline and 9 months ]Evaluate the change in gait velocity among all study participants between baseline and 9 months of active shunting, using the primary outcome of gait velocity (in meters per second).
- Cognition as assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) [ Time Frame: 3 months ]Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at three months using MoCA test to assess cognition. Scores on the MoCA range from 0 to 30, with a score of 26 and higher generally considered normal.
- Cognition as assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) [ Time Frame: 9 months ]Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at nine months using MoCA test to assess cognition. Scores on the MoCA range from zero to 30, with a score of 26 and higher generally considered normal.
- Bladder Control as assessed by the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, short form [ Time Frame: 3 months ]Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at three months using Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, short form (OAB-q sf.) to assess bladder control. The OAB-q sf consists of three QOL domains: coping, sleep, and emotional/social interaction. All scale scores are transformed to a 0- to 100-point scale, with lower scores indicating greater effect, i.e., worse QOL.
- Bladder Control as assessed by the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, short form [ Time Frame: 9 months ]Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at nine months using Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, short form (OAB-q sf.) to assess bladder control. All scale scores are transformed to a 0- to 100-point scale, with lower scores indicating greater effect, i.e., worse QOL.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 60 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥ 60 years; and
- Diagnosis of iNPH and recommendation for shunt surgery based on the Investigator's clinical judgement based on criteria and testing as described in the iNPH Guidelines;
- Evans Ratio ≥ 0.30; and
- One positive supplementary test to include either large volume Lumbar Puncture or extended CSF drainage per institutional standards; and
- History or evidence of gait impairment (such as decreased step height or length, decreased speed, retropulsion as described in the iNPH Guidelines) duration ≥ 6 months; and
- Participant has the sensory motor skills, communication skills and understanding to comply with the testing and reporting required in the PENS trial; and
- Participant is able to give written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unable to walk 10 meters with or without an assistive device; or
- Baseline fastest gait velocity (out of three gait trials) >1 m/sec prior to drainage trial and fastest gait velocity improvement is < 30% with or without an assistive device; or
- Unable to return to the study center for follow up evaluation and shunt programming; or
- Participant is not medically cleared for shunt surgery per local standards; or
- Secondary NPH. (Prior encephalitis, meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury (including concussion) within two years or with brain injury or skull fracture on baseline imaging, brain abscess, brain tumor, obstructive hydrocephalus (including acquired aqueductal stenosis and carcinomatous meningitis); or
- Prior or existing shunts, endoscopic third ventriculostomy, or any previous surgical intervention for hydrocephalus; or
- Previous intracranial neurosurgical procedure; or
- Symptomatic cerebral or cerebellar infarction occurring within 6 months from screening (asymptomatic lacunar infarctions are permitted); or
- Diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndrome that, in the investigator's judgment, will complicate the outcome evaluation; or
- Diagnosis of schizophrenia or any psychiatric diagnosis (including depression) that, in the investigator's judgment, will complicate the outcome evaluation (such as neuroleptic treatment for schizophrenia); or
- Diagnosis of dementia disorder where the investigator considers cognition deficit limits participation in the study; or
- Conditions impairing gait that are considered to be unrelated to hydrocephalus, such as hemiparesis, spasticity, cerebellar ataxia or musculoskeletal and joint disease, which will interfere with gait assessment or the potential for gait improvement.
- Individuals with contraindication to MRI (e.g., implanted electric and electronic devices, aneurysm clip(s), any metallic fragment or foreign body, coronary and peripheral artery stents, cardiac pacemaker, known claustrophobia, or known/possible pregnancy or breast-feeding) will be excluded according to institutional guidelines.

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): NCT05081128
Contact: Jessica Wollett | 667-306-8141 | penstrial@jh.edu | |
Contact: Cristina Camayd-Munoz | cmunoz@jhu.edu |

Principal Investigator: | Mark Luciano, MD, PhD | Johns Hopkins University | |
Study Director: | Richard Holubkov, PhD | University of Utah |
Responsible Party: | Johns Hopkins University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT05081128 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IRB00305245 1U01NS122764 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) PENS ( Other Identifier: Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurosurgery ) |
First Posted: | October 18, 2021 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | May 19, 2023 |
Last Verified: | May 2023 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | Yes |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases |