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Low-Frequency REpetitive TRanscranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Endovascular Treatment in ACute Ischemic StrokE

Low-Frequency REpetitive TRanscranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Endovascular Treatment in ACute Ischemic StrokE (RETRACE-II): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled, Phase 2 Pilot Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06064747
Acronym
RETRACE-II
Enrollment
60
Registered
2023-10-03
Start date
2024-05-25
Completion date
2025-07-02
Last updated
2026-04-08

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

Conditions

Stroke, Acute Ischemic

Keywords

Acute ischemic stroke, LF-rTMS, Endovascular therapy, Phase 2 Pilot Trial

Brief summary

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, investigator-initiated clinical study, to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of LF-rTMS in rescuing the ischemic penumbra, reducing disability rate and improving functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving early endovascular recanalization (bridging or direct endovascular therapy)

Detailed description

The target population of this study was patients with acute ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation diagnosed clinically. The site of acute occlusion of the responsible vessel was located in the intracranial segment of the internal carotid artery, T-type bifurcation or M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery, planning for bridging therapy (bridging intravascular therapy after intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase) or direct intravascular therapy, the time from stroke onset to the start of the trial intervention was less than 24 hours (when the exact time of onset was unknown, the patient's"Last apparent normal time" was defined as the time of onset). Enrolled patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the"LF-rTMS group" or the"Sham Stimulation Group" and received: 1. LF-rTMS group: using "8" coil,1-Hz rTMS to stimulate the M1 region of the ipsilateral hemisphere, the stimulation intensity was RMT 100%, 1200pulses/session, two sessions (2400 pulses)/day (interval ≥ 2 hours), lasting 3 days (total 6 sessions, 7200pulses); 2. Sham stimulation group: the sham stimulation coil was used to stimulate the same site, duration and sound as the LF-rTMS group, ensuring no effective stimulation, twice a day for 3 days. All patients received endovascular therapy (bridging therapy or direct endovascular therapy). All patients were followed up until the 90th day after randomization to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of LF-rTMS in rescuing the ischemic penumbra, reducing disability rate and improving functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving early endovascular recanalization (bridging or direct endovascular therapy)

Interventions

DEVICELF-rTMS

LF-rTMS group: using "8" coil,1-Hz rTMS to stimulate the M1 region of the ipsilateral hemisphere, the stimulation intensity was RMT 100%, 1200pulses/session, two sessions (2400 pulses)/day (interval ≥ 2 hours), lasting 3 days (total 6 sessions, 7200pulses);

DEVICESham stimulation

Sham stimulation group: the sham stimulation coil was used to stimulate the same site, duration and sound as the LF-rTMS group, ensuring no effective stimulation, twice a day for 3 days.

Sponsors

Beijing Tiantan Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Masking description

In order to ensure the blind method, the sham stimulation coil was used, which had the same parameters (including location, stimulation frequency, time, etc.) as the LF-rTMS group, and had the same stimulation sound to ensure no effective stimulation, to ensure the blind state is maintained during the test. Investigators and patients who participated in the study treatment or involved in the clinical evaluation of patients were blinded to treatment grouping.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. 18 - 80 years, male or female; 2. Clinically diagnosed as acute anterior ischemic stroke, artery occlusion occurred at the terminal of the intracranial carotid artery, T-shaped bifurcation or M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery; 3. Within 24 hours of stroke onset; 4. Eligible for other imaging indications for bridging therapy or direct mechanical thrombectomy: ASPECTS ≥6 certified by the latest brain CT imaging; Patients within 6-16 hours after stroke onset should meet the mismatch criteria, which was defined as infarction core volume \<70 ml, mismatch ratio ≥1.8 and the ischemic volume \> 15 ml (DEFUSE-3 Criteria); or NIHSS score ≥ 10 with infarction -core volume \< 31 cm3, or NIHSS score ≥ 20 with infarction core volume ≤ 51 cm3 (DAWN Criteria); Patients within 16-24 hours after stroke onset should meet the mismatch criteria, which was defined as NIHSS score ≥ 10 with infarction-core volume \< 31 cm3, or NIHSS score ≥ 20 with infarction-core volume ≤ 51 cm3 (DAWN Criteria); 5. Planned to receive bridging therapy (endovascular therapy after intravenous alteplase) or direct endovascular therapy; 6. Pre-morbid modified Rankin Scale ≤1; 7. 6 ≤ NIHSS ≤ 25 before endovascular therapy; 8. Signed informed consent from subjects or legally authorized representatives

Exclusion criteria

1. TMS contraindications include metallic foreign bodies in the head, pacemaker, implantable drug pumps, cochlear implants, etc. 2. Epilepsy or history of epilepsy, intracranial hypertension, tumor and other serious neurological disorders; 3. Midline displacement and brain parenchymal mass effect seen in head CT and other images; 4. Head CT or MRI showed bilateral acute cerebral infarction; 5. CT or MRI showed a large area of infarction (\> 1/3 of the area supplied by middle cerebral artery); 6. Evidence of acute intracranial hemorrhage; 7. Before the bridging therapy, other thrombolytic drugs besides alteplase or tenecteplase were used; 8. A history of congenital or acquired hemorrhagic disease, coagulation factor deficiency, or thrombocytopenia disease; 9. After blood pressure control, the systolic blood pressure was still ≥180 mmHg or the diastolic blood pressure was ≥110 mmHg; 10. Known recent or current serum creatinine exceeding 1.5 times the upper limit of normal or estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) \< 60 mL/min; 11. Patients during pregnancy or lactation and within 90 days of planned pregnancy; 12. Patients with severe mental disorders or dementia who can not cooperate with informed consent and follow-up; 13. Patients with malignancy or severe systemic disease and expected survival of less than 90 days; 14. Participants in other clinical intervention studies within 30 days before randomization or who were participating in other clinical intervention studies.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Early neurological improvement (ENI)3 daysThe proportion of patients with a reduction of ≥4 on the NIHSS, compared with the baseline score or an NIHSS of 0 or 1
Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage3 daysThe proportion of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rescue penumbra ratio3 daysBaseline penumbra volume - Infarct volume 3 days after randomization / Baseline penumbra volume × 100%
Infarct volume progression3 daysThe difference between CT infarct volume and baseline core infarct volume
Final infarct volume7 and 90 daysInfarct volume on DWI at day 7 after randomization, and infarct volume on FlAIR at Day 90 ± 7 after randomization.
mRS scores of 0-190 daysProportion of patients with mRS scores of 0-1
mRS scores of 0-290 daysProportion of patients with mRS scores of 0-2
Serious adverse events (SAE)90 daysThe proportion of serious adverse events (SAE)
All-cause deaths90 daysThe proportion of all-cause deaths
Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage90 daysThe incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage
Deterioration of neurological function3 daysThe incidence of deterioration of neurological function (NIHSS increase ≥4 points)
Stroke recurrence90 daysCerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage
Adverse events (AE)3 daysAdverse events (AE)

Countries

China

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORYongjun MD Wang, MD

Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 9, 2026