Electrical Stimulation of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion for the Treatment of Migraine Headaches

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01294046

Enrollment

Registered

2011-02-11

Start date

2011-03-31

Completion date

2014-03-31

Last updated

2017-04-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Migraine Headache

Keywords

Episodic migraine headache

Brief summary

This investigation will gather information about a procedure called sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) stimulation, and its appropriateness, safety, and efficacy as a treatment for those who suffer migraine headaches which may result in chronic severe disability. The SPG is a small collection of nerve cells in the head, and is located near the base of the nose on either side. Participation involves the surgical implantation of an electrode (small electrical conductor) over the sphenopalatine ganglion. The electrode is connected to a stimulator which will enable treatment for migraine headaches. Tiny electrical current is delivered to the stimulator device by an internal pulse generator implanted in the area at the top of the chest, to stop the migraine headaches. The implant system will be controlled with a wireless remote provided after the implant procedure. Participation will record headache diaries throughout the study, which will last approximately 8½ months, and a yearly visit annually for five years.

Detailed description

This application proposes a clinical study of electrical stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglia (SPG) as a treatment for up to three individuals with episodic migraine headache. The present study is aimed at obtaining pilot data to guide a future controlled trial of this treatment modality. The study population will include individuals suffering from episodic migraine headaches with chronic severe disability, as demonstrated by the Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire (Lipton, 2000) and Headache Impact Test short form (HIT-6™) (Kosinski, 2003). The treatment involves implantation of an electrode into the SPG. The electrode is connected subcutaneously to an infraclavicular stimulator (PrimeAdvanced™ 37702 Multi-program Neurostimulator System, Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis MN). Proper electrode placement will be verified using anatomic and physiologic techniques. Participants will receive the Medtronic Model 3389 or 3387 lead, or Medtronic subcompact lead Model 3776-45, 3776-60, or 3776-75. Stimulation will be delivered in a range of frequencies from 20 to 130 Hz, and pulse width from 60 to 450 μsec, and a titrated voltage. The voltages used for chronic stimulation may range up to the pulse generator maximum of 10.5 volts but are anticipated to generally be below 3 volts, keeping below the 30 µcoulomb/cm² charge density safety limit, and below the threshold for adverse stimulation-related effects. The minimum number of contacts on the quadripolar leads will be activated as necessary to produce a response. The Prime Advanced neurostimulator to be used in this study allows the clinician to set all stimulation parameters including the maximum allowable amplitude. It is our responsibility to assure that appropriate stimulation parameters are used to result in appropriate electrical exposure charge density) below a 30 µC/cm2/phase limit. As is done with commercially available neurostimulators, during this study, we will utilize the charts presented in Figures 1 and 2 below to assist in selection of programming parameters, and this programming will be maintained by software controls within the neurostimulator. For this exploratory study of 3 patients, the maximum electrical stimulating parameters, resulting electrical exposure (e.g., charge density), will be determined using the methods described above. It is our responsibility to assure that safe stimulation parameters are used at all times and that the maximum settings do not exceed the safety limits. Our plan is to begin with lead 3776 if possible, because it does not require an extra extension, but we would use 3387 or 3389 if clinically indicated. The proposed study is a physician-sponsored research investigation of three patients, and the attention to stimulation parameters will be much greater than can be expected for a commercially released product. It is our responsibility within this investigational study to insure the selected stimulation parameters do not exceed the safety limit of 30μC/cm2/phase. Patients participating in the study will only be able to lower stimulation amplitudes, thereby keeping stimulation parameters BELOW any clinician set maximum. The only programs available to or accessible by the patients will maintain the previously described parameter set limitations. Thus, the programming of the Implantable Programmable Generator (IPG) will keep the three patients from stimulating outside or above the set and safe parameters. The primary outcome measures for assessing the efficacy of migraine treatment will be a subject reported daily diary noting frequency and intensity of headaches. During this investigation we will obtain preliminary controlled data on the safety and efficacy of SPG stimulation for migraine treatment.

Interventions

DEVICEDeep Brain Stimulation of SPG for Migraine

Deep Brain Stimulation of SPG for Migraine

Study design

Allocation

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age ≥18 years. 2. Subject has onset of migraine headache occurring before age 60. 3. Subject has been diagnosed with migraine headache with or without aura, according to the 2004 IHS criteria 1.1 and 1.2. 4. Subject reports a HIT-6 score of \>56, a MIDAS score of \>20 and/or a failure of adequate and appropriate previous migraine treatment. 5. Subject has carried the diagnosis of migraine for at least 6 months prior to enrollment. 6. Subject has had at least three migraine headache attacks per month. 7. Subject has had at least three headache days (migraine or non-migraine) per month and maintains this requirement during the baseline period on diary. 8. Subject is able to distinguish migraine headache attacks as discrete from other headaches (i.e., tension-type headaches). 9. Subject has the ability to read, comprehend and legibly and reliably record information as required by the protocol. 10. Subject is able to provide written informed consent prior to participation in the study. 11. Subject agrees to not participate in supplemental or alternative therapy during the baseline or treatment phases of the clinical study. This includes: acupuncture, spinal manipulation, TENS, and magnetic field treatments. 12. Subject agrees to maintain current preventative headache medication regimens (no change in type, frequency, or dose) from baseline screening visit to the end of the Phase 2 treatment phase.

Exclusion criteria

1. Subject currently has Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) in the judgment of the investigator or by ICHD-II criteria. 2. Subject has a history of headaches days ≥ 15 per month. 3. Subject has a history of trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. 4. Subject has any medical condition or disorder that: 1. Is considered to be clinically significant and may pose a safety concern 2. Could interfere with the accurate assessment of safety or efficacy 3. Could potentially affect a subject's safety or study outcome. 5. Subject has had a major infection or surgery in the past month. 6. Subject has undergone facial surgery in the area of sphenopalatine ganglia for cosmetic, corrective, therapeutic, or traumatic reasons. 7. Subject has been treated with radiation to the face. 8. Subject was diagnosed with any major infectious processes, primary or secondary malignancies involving the face that have been active or required treatment in the past six (6) months. 9. Subject currently meets criteria as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) for an active major depressive episode or for active significant psychiatric disorders, including dementia, uncontrolled general anxiety disorder, psychotic disorders or uncontrolled bipolar disorder.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Migraine Relief at 2 Hours Post Stimulation	8.5 Months	Pain is rated at stimulation and 2 hours after stimulation initiated based on four point categorical scale, FDA-approved, where 0 = no headache pain, 1= mild pain, 2 = moderate pain, 3 = severe pain. This scale has been used since 1991 for all regulatory submission migraine protocols. Each migraine is categorized in a binary fashion as meeting the endpoint at 2 hours. Migraine relief or Pain relief is defined as moving from pain levels of 3 to 2 down to 1 or 0.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Pain Free at 2 Hours Post Stimulation	8.5 months	As noted above, we are using the FDA-approved categorical scale used for all migraine regulatory trials since 1992. This is a 4 point categorical scale where 0= no pain, 1= mild headache pain, 2= moderate pain, and 3= severe pain. Pain free is defined as the subject moving from pain intensity of 2 to 3 at baseine to 0 by 2 hours after stimulation.
Acute Migraine Medication Use	8.5 months	During the baseline period, subjects will record their acute as-needed migraine relief medication use for each attack by drug, dose, route, and frequency. A secondary endpoint for this phase is a reduction in acute migraine medication usage for each attack for drug, dose, route, and frequency during the last month of the study as compared to the baseline month.
Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) Compared With Baseline	8.5 months	The Headache Impact Test -6 (HIT-6) is a validated tool for evaluating headache impact and disability across 6 domains, which will be recorded at baseline and at study conclusion.
Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) at Study Conclusion Compared With Baseline	8.5 months	The Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) is a validated tool that assesses how many days in the last 3 months a patient had at least 50% disability at work, home, school, or recreational activities due to migraine. MIDAS will be assessed at baseline and after study conclusion.
Migraine Free at 2 Hours	8.5 Months	Each migraine will be categorized as meeting the endpoint of migraine free if there is a reduction in the migraine grade to 0 for pain with no nausea, photophobia and phonophobia at 2 hours after initiation of stimulation.
Average Per Subject Reduction in Migraine Days/Month	8.5 months	During the baseline period, subjects will record the number of migraine days (as defined by the FDA-approved International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2d Edition definition of migraine with and without aura) during the month. The primary endpoint for this phase is a reduction in the number of migraine days during the last month of the study as compared to the baseline month.
Implantation and Stimulation Related Adverse Events	8.5 months	As noted above, we are using the FDA-approved categorical scale used for all migraine regulatory trials since 1992. This is a 4 point categorical scale where 0= no pain, 1= mild headache pain, 2= moderate pain, and 3= severe pain. Pain free is defined as the subject moving from pain intensity of 2 to 3 at baseine to 0 by 2 hours after stimulation.
Relief of Migraine-associated Symptoms, e.g. Nausea/Vomiting, Photophobia, Phonophobia	8.5 months	Presence or absence of nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia will be assessed at baseline and after stimulation at 2 hours for each stimulation for each individual.
Stimulation Related Adverse Events	8.5 months	Number of Participants with Adverse Events as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Protocol required 3 subjects who were from the Cleveland Clinic migraine patient population.

Pre-assignment details

This is a one arm study

Participants by arm

Arm	Count
Deep Brain Stimulation Arm Group Electrical Stimulation of SPG for Treatment of Migraine Electrical Stimulation of SPG for Treatment of Migraine: Electrical Stimulation of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion for the Treatment of Migraine Headaches	0
Total	0

Withdrawals & dropouts

Period	Reason	FG000
Overall Study	Eligibility criteria expanded	1
Overall Study	Infection and surgical explant	1
Overall Study	Stimulation response inadqequate	1

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic	Deep Brain Stimulation Arm Group	—
Age, Categorical <=18 years	0	—
Age, Categorical >=65 years	0	—
Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years	0	—
Region of Enrollment United States	—	— participants

Adverse events

Event type	EG000 affected / at risk
deaths Total, all-cause mortality	— / —
other Total, other adverse events	0 / 1
serious Total, serious adverse events	1 / 1

Outcome results

Primary

Migraine Relief at 2 Hours Post Stimulation

Pain is rated at stimulation and 2 hours after stimulation initiated based on four point categorical scale, FDA-approved, where 0 = no headache pain, 1= mild pain, 2 = moderate pain, 3 = severe pain. This scale has been used since 1991 for all regulatory submission migraine protocols. Each migraine is categorized in a binary fashion as meeting the endpoint at 2 hours. Migraine relief or Pain relief is defined as moving from pain levels of 3 to 2 down to 1 or 0.

Time frame: 8.5 Months