Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Disorder, Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Encephalomyelitis, Myalgic, Infectious Mononucleosis-Like Syndrome, Chronic, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Postviral Fatigue Syndrome, Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease
Conditions
Keywords
ME/CFS, myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, stellate ganglion block, SGB, cervical sympathetic block, post-exertional malaise, PEM, exertional intolerance, brain fog, orthostatic intolerance
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to study the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) in participants with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does SGB treatment improve symptoms of ME/CFS (e.g. brain fog, fatigue)? Do changes in symptoms go along with changes in blood or saliva? Participants will receive a total of six blocks over three weeks (one block on each side, one day apart, per week). Prior to treatment and at two points following treatment, participants will complete surveys, take a cognitive (puzzle type) test, and provide blood and saliva for analysis. Participants will measure their heart rate daily using a free smart phone app.
Interventions
DRUGBupivacaine Injection
Reciprocal unilateral stellate ganglion blocks, separated by at least 16 hours, will be given once per week for three weeks (for a total of 6 blocks). This study is not intended to be reported to FDA as a well-controlled study in support of a new indication for bupivacaine or to support any other significant change in the labeling for the drug.
Sponsors
Neuroversion, Inc.
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age (18-50 years) * Female * ME/CFS (CCC and IOM criteria) duration less than 4 years at time of study enrollment * Confirmed or suspected viral disease prior to ME/CFS onset (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, Epstein-Barr, Influenza) * BMI =18-29 kg/m\^2 * Ability to read, write and speak English language
Exclusion criteria
* Prior SGB treatment * Allergy to amide local anesthetics (e.g. ropivacaine, bupivacaine) * Current anticoagulant use * History of bleeding disorder * History of glaucoma * Infection or mass at injection site * Anatomical abnormalities in C3-T1 region * Current pregnancy * Hypertension * Diabetes (any type) * Thyroid disease * History of neck or throat surgeries * Vocal cord problems or paralysis * Causalgia/Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) * Current cancer diagnosis * Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome * Diagnosis of current moderate or severe substance use disorder * History of neurological disease, seizure, or significant head trauma * Conditions or disorders (other than ME/CFS) that affect cognitive functioning including stroke, past or present diagnosis of psychosis or psychotic symptoms, diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, or severe depression
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Cognitive Function at 2 Months | 2 months | The primary objective of the clinical trial is to evaluate whether stellate ganglion block treatment reduces brain fog as measured by computerized neurocognitive tests for attention, executive function, and memory. Scores are standardized and scaled to adjust for age and the device on which tests are taken. Scores range from 0 to 200, in which the average score (corresponding to the 50th percentile) is set to 100, and higher scores indicate better cognitive function. Scores are obtained for attention, executive function, and memory. Scores at baseline will be compared to scores at two months post-treatment. |
| Change in Cognitive Function at 2 Weeks | 2 weeks | The primary objective of the clinical trial is to evaluate whether stellate ganglion block treatment reduces brain fog as measured by computerized neurocognitive tests for attention, executive function, and memory. Scores are standardized and scaled to adjust for age and the device on which tests are taken. Scores range from 0 to 200, in which the average score (corresponding to the 50th percentile) is set to 100, and higher scores indicate better cognitive function. Scores are obtained for attention, executive function, and memory. Scores at baseline will be compared to scores at two weeks post-treatment. |
| Change in Subjective Rating of Symptoms at 2 Weeks | 2 weeks | The primary objective of the clinical trial is to evaluate whether stellate ganglion block treatment improves the subjective rating of symptoms (severity and frequency) and the amount of limitations to activities. We will measure the change from baseline scores at two weeks for the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire to measure the frequency and severity of symptoms (on a scale of 0 to 4 in which a higher score indicates more frequent or more severe) and the Rand Short Form-36-Physical Fatigue subscale (SF-36PF) to measure the amount of limitations due to symptoms (on a scale of 1-3 in which a higher score indicates less limitation). |
| Change in Subjective Rating of Symptoms at 2 Months | 2 months | The primary objective of the clinical trial is to evaluate whether stellate ganglion block treatment improves the subjective rating of symptoms (severity and frequency) and the amount of limitations to activities. We will measure the change from baseline scores at two months for the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire to measure the frequency and severity of symptoms (on a scale of 0 to 4 in which a higher score indicates more frequent or more severe) and the Rand Short Form-36-Physical Fatigue subscale (SF-36PF) to measure the amount of limitations due to symptoms (on a scale of 1-3 in which a higher score indicates less limitation). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Autonomic Tone at 2 Weeks | 2 weeks | A wearable device (a ring worn on a finger at night) will be used to measure resting heart rate (beats per minute), heart rate variability (milliseconds), and blood oxygenation (percentage oxygen aka SpO2) during the night and for 5 minutes upon awakening, in combination with a smart phone app, at baseline and two weeks after treatment. These parameters reflect the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (aka autonomic tone). ME/CFS patients are known to have excessive sympathetic tone. Within normal levels, better outcomes are indicated by lower resting heart rate, increased heart rate variability, and increased blood oxygenation. |
| Change in Orthostatic Tolerance at 2 Weeks | 2 weeks | The 10-minute National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lean test will be used to measure hemodynamic changes during orthostatic challenge (lying down vs. standing up). The study will measure change from baseline at 2 weeks post-treatment. |
| Change in Orthostatic Tolerance at 2 Months | 2 months | The 10-minute National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lean test will be used to measure hemodynamic changes during orthostatic challenge (lying down vs. standing up). The study will measure change from baseline at 2 months post-treatment. |
| Change in Autonomic Tone at 2 Months | 2 months | A wearable device (a ring worn on a finger at night) will be used to measure resting heart rate (beats per minute), heart rate variability (milliseconds), and blood oxygenation (percentage oxygen aka SpO2) during the night and for 5 minutes upon awakening, in combination with a smart phone app, at baseline and two months after treatment. These parameters reflect the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (aka autonomic tone). ME/CFS patients are known to have excessive sympathetic tone. Within normal levels, better outcomes are indicated by lower resting heart rate, increased heart rate variability, and increased blood oxygenation compared to baseline. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Salivary Cortisol upon Awakening at 2 Weeks | 2 weeks | Concentration of free cortisol in saliva upon awakening will be measured in micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL) using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), at baseline and two weeks after treatment. ME/CFS patients have abnormally low levels of cortisol in general and upon awakening. An increased concentration within the normal range (from 0.007 ug/dL to 0.115 ug/dL) indicates a better outcome. |
| Change in Metabolites at 2 Months | 2 months | Plasma will be analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to determine the levels of 433 hydrophilic metabolites (relative to an unchanging molecule in plasma) at baseline and at two months after treatment. ME/CFS patients are known to have abnormally high or low amounts of many metabolites, indicating mitochondrial dysfunction. Changes in abnormal metabolites toward normal values would indicate a better outcome. |
| Change in Metabolites at 2 Weeks | 2 weeks | Plasma will be analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to determine the levels of 433 hydrophilic metabolites (relative to an unchanging molecule in plasma) at baseline and at two weeks after treatment. ME/CFS patients are known to have abnormally high or low amounts of many metabolites, indicating mitochondrial dysfunction. Changes in abnormal metabolites toward normal values would indicate a better outcome. |
| Change in Salivary Cortisol Upon Awakening at 2 Months | 2 months | Concentration of free cortisol in saliva upon awakening will be measured in micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL) using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), at baseline and two months after treatment. ME/CFS patients have abnormally low levels of cortisol in general and upon awakening. An increased concentration within the normal range (from 0.007 ug/dL to 0.115 ug/dL) indicates a better outcome. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed