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Subacute Effect of Pharyngeal Pharmacological Sensory Stimulation in Elderly Patients With Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

Subacute Effect of Pharmacological Sensory Stimulation of the Oropharynx by Agonists of TRP Receptors in Swallowing Neurophysiology in the Elderly With Oropharyngeal Dysphagia.

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04741620
Acronym
FIS2018
Enrollment
150
Registered
2021-02-05
Start date
2019-01-17
Completion date
2022-03-27
Last updated
2022-07-13

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

Conditions

Dysphagia, Oropharyngeal Dysphagia, Swallowing Disorder

Keywords

Oropharyngeal dysphagia, TRP agonists, Pharmacological stimulation, Sensory stimulation, Elderly

Brief summary

Oropharyngeal sensory impairments are a potential target for treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in older patients. We previously found acute administration of TRP sensory stimulants improved VFS signs and swallow response. We hypothesized that sub-acute administration of TRP pharyngeal sensory stimulants, would improve cortical neuroplasticity and will lead into a faster and stronger swallow response, however desensitization of TRP receptors may occur. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the biomechanical (Videofluoroscopy) and neurophysiological (pharyngeal sensory evoked potentials -PSEPs- and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs)) effect of 2 week treatment with TRP agonists in older patients with OD. Design: 150 older (\>70yr) patients with OD will be included in a Randomized Control Trial assessing the effect of oral administration of either: a) capsaicin (TRPV1); b) piperine (TRPV1/TRPA1) c) cinnamaldehyde (TRPA1); d) citric acid (ASIC3); e) capsaicin+citric acid (TRPV1/ASIC3); and f) placebo (Control). Measurements: 1) VFS signs of safety and efficacy of swallow and timing and extent of swallow response; 2) Latency, amplitude and cortical representation of PSEP and MEP; 3) Substance P concentration in saliva by ELISA as a marker of peripheral stimulation. Results from this study might help to develop new and effective pharmacological treatments for older dysphagic patients, from compensation to recovery of swallow function.

Detailed description

The project consists of a randomized, double-blind controlled interventional clinical trial (patient and analysis of results) with five treatment arms and a control group (placebo) involving a total of 150 elderly patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia (25 patients per group). The recruitment of participants for the study will be carried out from the patients referred to the Dysphagia Unit of the Hospital de Mataró for the evaluation of swallowing disorders. The swallowing function of all candidates to be included in the study will be clinically evaluated using the volume-viscosity swallowing test (V-VST). Those patients with signs of impaired safety of swallowing during the examination (cough, decreased O2 saturation greater than 2% or voice change) will be candidates to participate in the study. They will be informed and in case of acceptance a saliva sample will be taken, and a videofluoroscopy (VFS) will be performed. If the patient presents impaired safety of swallow (Penetration aspiration scale higher or equal than 2), the patient will be definitively randomized to one of the branches of intervention and the rest of the explorations will proceed (sensory evoked potentials to pharyngeal electrical stimulation and pharyngeal motor evoked potentials to transcranial magnetic stimulation). After the treatment period a second evaluation of study procedures will be performed. The treatment will consist of administering 10mL solution of the study product, according to randomization, 3 times a day (before breakfast, lunch and dinner) for 14 consecutive days after inclusion in the study. Treatment selected according our previous studies (Alvarez-Berdugo et al. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2017) are: Capsaicin 10microM, Piperine 150microM, Cinnamaldehyde 756,6microM + zinc 70microM, citric acid 457,5microM (pH=3,5), Capsaicin 10microM + citric acid 457,5microM (pH=3,5). For the control group, placebo product will be administered, which will be the vehicle solution with a more neutral pH.

Interventions

OTHERCapsaicin 10microM (TRPV1 natural agonist)

10 mL Capsaicin 10microM solution 3 times per day (before each meal) during 14 consecutive days.

OTHERPiperine 150microM (TRPV1 & TRPA1 natural agonist)

10 mL Piperine 150microM solution 3 times per day (before each meal) during 14 consecutive days.

OTHERCinnamaldehyde 756,6microM + zinc 70microM (TRPA1 natural agonist)

10 mL Cinnamaldehyde 756,6microM + zinc 70microM solution 3 times per day (before each meal) during 14 consecutive days.

OTHERCitric acid 457,5microM (pH=3,5) (ASIC3 natural agonist)

10 mL Citric acid 457,5microM (pH=3,5) solution 3 times per day (before each meal) during 14 consecutive days.

OTHERCapsaicin 10microM + Citric acid 457,5microM (pH=3,5) (TRPV1 & ASIC3 natural agonists)

10 mL Capsaicin 10microM + Citric acid 457,5microM (pH=3,5) solution 3 times per day (before each meal) during 14 consecutive days.

OTHERPlacebo (Methyl benzoate, Propyl benzoate, Propylenglycol)

10 mL placebo solution 3 times per day (before each meal) during 14 consecutive days.

Sponsors

Hospital de Mataró
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
70 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* More than 70 years old. * Oropharyngeal dysphagia with impaired safety of swallow (penetration aspiration score higher or equal than 2). * Patients able to comply with the study protocol. * Signature or the written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* Previous history of severe gastrointestinal diseases. * Epilepsy or previous convulsive crisis episodes. * Pacemaker or implanted defibrillator carriers. * Cardiopulmonary instability. * Oropharyngeal dysphagia of structural cause. * Previous history of head and neck surgery. * Neurodegenerative disease. * Advanced dementia (GDS higher than 5). * Gastroesophageal reflux. * Taking drugs with effects on dopamine. * Neoplasia or active infection. * Alcohol, tobacco or drugs dependence. * Participate or have participated in another interventionist clinical trial in the 4 weeks prior to inclusion.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in the score of the Penetration Aspiration ScaleBaseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionDifferences found in the videofluoroscopy Penetration Aspiration Scale (from 1 (safe swallow) to 8 (silent aspiration)) between treatments and vs. the placebo group.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Impaired efficacyBaseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionVideofluoroscopic signs of impaired efficacy of swallow (oral and pharyngeal residue)
Oropharyngeal swallow response (laryngeal vestibule closure time)Baseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionLaryngeal vestibule closure time (ms) in videofluoroscopy
Oropharyngeal swallow response (upper esophageal opening time)Baseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionUpper esophageal opening time (ms) in videofluoroscopy
Oropharyngeal swallow response (laryngeal vestibule opening time)Baseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionLaryngeal vestibule opening time (ms) in videofluoroscopy
Oropharyngeal swallow response (Bolus final velocity)Baseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionBolus final velocity (m/s) in videofluoroscopy
Impaired safety of swallowBaseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionVideofluoroscopic signs of impaired safety of swallow (penetrations an aspirations)
Pharyngeal motor evoked potentialsBaseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionLatency, amplitude, duration and area under de curve of the Pharyngeal motor evoked potentials.
Sensory thresholdBaseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionSensory threshold to pharyngeal electrical stimulation (mA)
Substance PBaseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionConcentration of substance P in saliva.
Palatability and comfort with the treatment.Baseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionPalatability and comfort with the treatment.
Pharyngeal sensory evoked potentialsBaseline versus 2/3 days after the interventionLatency and amplitude of N1, P1, N2 and P2 peaks of the Pharyngeal sensory evoked potentials.

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

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