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COVID-19 Infection: Exploration of Respiratory Control Center Abnormalities

Do Respiratory Control Center Anomalies Explain the Lack of Respiratory Sensations Perceptions Observed in Patients Affected by COVID-19 ?

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04363749
Acronym
CRC-COVID
Enrollment
50
Registered
2020-04-27
Start date
2020-04-27
Completion date
2021-01-11
Last updated
2021-08-30

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

Conditions

Covid19, Neurological Complication

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, dyspnea, hypoxic stimulus

Brief summary

The purpose of the present study is to determine whether there is a decrease in the emotional response to experimental induction of dyspnea by hypoxic stimulation in subjects with a neurological form of COVID-19, compared to healthy controls.

Detailed description

SARS CoV-2 infection causes lung damage that can be severe enough to require artificial ventilation. Clinicians taking care of these patients are surprised by the scant respiratory sensations and emotional responses described by patients. This attenuation of respiratory interoception deprives clinicians of the usual warning signs during respiratory decompensation of dyspnea and its aggravation. It may be the result of central nerve damage. This hypothesis is bolstered by the observation that within the multiple clinical forms of COVID-19 infection there are some neurological forms (headache, anosmia, agueusia, dizziness, without respiratory signs and with little or no fever), that are most likely the consequence of olfactory penetration of the virus into the central nervous system (mechanism described for SARS CoV-1).

Interventions

OTHERhypoxia : 14.3 and 12.7% FIO2, hypercapnia 7% CO2, inspiratory mechanical constraint

the fraction of inspired oxygen is reduced from \ 21% (room air) to 14.3 and 12.7% allowing the SpO2 to decrease to \ 75%, rebreathing test allowing the PCO2 to rise to 65 mmHg, inspiratory mechanical constraint with 50 to 75% of maximum inspiratory pressure

Sponsors

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* \- adult (≥ 18 years old, unprotected); * for COVID-19 + patients: COVID-19 + diagnosis; with quantitative or qualitative anomalies in taste and smell; first symptoms appeared in less than 21 days * for healthy subjects: have never presented any sign of COVID ; confirmed by recent negative serology * understanding French; * affiliated to social security; * having a BMI between 20 and 30; * preferably non-smokers and in the event of recruitment difficulties, smokers but with smoking \<5 packs - year * signature of the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

* respiratory signs or symptoms (rhinitis, cough, shortness of breath at rest); * temperature above 37.5 ° C; * existence of a chronic respiratory pathology (including asthma and COPD in the first row); * pregnant women ; * protected minors and adults, persons deprived of their liberty; * not affiliated to a social security (including AME); * contraindication to MRI (pace maker, intracranial implants, etc.).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Intensity of the emotional response to hypoxic exposure (14.3 et 12.7% FIO2)10 minutesSlope of the relation between the intensity of a hypoxic stimulus to the intensity of the emotional response (visual analog scale, VAS : 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Perception of a hypoxic stimulus induced dyspnea (14.3 et 12.7% FIO2)5 minutesratings of dyspnea immediately after a hypoxic stimulus: Multidisciplinary Dyspnea Profile, MDP : 0 is no change and 10 is unbearable
Perception of a hypercapnic stimulus induced dyspnea (7% CO2)10 minutesratings of dyspnea intensity and unpleasantness during a hypercapnic stimulus (visual analog scale, VAS : 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain)
Perception of a inspiratory mechanical constraint induced dyspnea10 minratings of dyspnea intensity and unpleasantness during an inspiratory mechanical constraint (visual analog scale, VAS: 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain)
brain MRI1,5 hoursMultimodal MRI (including anatomical MRI, resting-state functional MRI)

Countries

France

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026