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Chinese Herbal Therapy (Qiqi Shengmai Formula) for Moyamoya Vasculopathy: The CHIMES Trial

Effect of Chinese Herbal Intervention (Qiqi Shengmai Formula) for Moyamoya Vasculopathy in Cerebral Hemodynamics (CHIMES ): a Single-center, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07286110
Enrollment
66
Registered
2025-12-16
Start date
2025-12-30
Completion date
2026-12-30
Last updated
2025-12-22

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

Conditions

Moyamoya Disease, Moyamoya Syndrome

Brief summary

Patients diagnosed with moyamoya vasculopathy by imaging and classified as having the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome of liver-yang hyperactivity will be enrolled. On the basis of standardized Western medical management, participants will receive the standardized TCM herbal formula Qiqi Shengmai Formula (comprising Astragali Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Schisandrae Fructus, Bupleuri Radix, Paeoniae Radix Alba, and Notoginseng Radix). Structured follow-up will be conducted. By comparing endpoint indicators across different treatment regimens, the study aims to evaluate the efficacy of integrated TCM-Western medicine therapy for moyamoya vasculopathy and to generate evidence-based support for an integrated diagnostic and therapeutic model.

Interventions

DRUGTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatment

Patients receive the standardized TCM formula Qiqi Shengmai Decoction (composed of Astragali Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Schisandrae Fructus, Bupleuri Radix, Paeoniae Radix Alba, and Notoginseng Radix). The prescription is taken twice daily, one dose per administration, for six consecutive weeks, with each dose consumed 30 minutes after breakfast and dinner

For ischemic-type moyamoya disease, antiplatelet monotherapy with cilostazol is administered, while antiplatelet therapy is not recommended for asymptomatic patients or those with hemorrhagic-type moyamoya disease. For patients with concomitant dyslipidemia, statins and evolocumab may be added, with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol controlled to 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L). Blood pressure is maintained at 140/90 mmHg, and glycemic management targets a hemoglobin A1c level of \<7.0%.

DRUGTCM Placebo

The placebo consists primarily of medicinal starch, food-grade caramel coloring (for color correction), and a bittering agent (for flavor adjustment). Its appearance-including shape, size, color, and taste-is identical to that of the herbal preparation. It is administered twice daily, one dose at each administration, for six consecutive weeks, taken 30 minutes after breakfast and dinner.

Sponsors

Fudan University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Imaging findings meeting the Western medical diagnostic criteria for moyamoya vasculopathy 2. Age between 18 and 80 years 3. The patient and family members are fully informed and voluntarily consent to participation, with the informed consent process conducted in accordance with GCP requirements 4. Willingness to receive Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment 5. Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation consistent with liver-yang hyperactivity

Exclusion criteria

1. Acute cerebrovascular events within the preceding 6 weeks 2. Known allergy to contrast agents or to the investigational medication 3. Presence of severe primary diseases involving the cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, endocrine, or hematopoietic systems 4. Pregnant or breastfeeding women 5. Patients scheduled to undergo cerebral revascularization surgery 6. Participation in other ongoing clinical trial

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
CT PerfusionBaseline, at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after enrollmentCerebral perfusion parameters measured by CT perfusion imaging, including cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT), and time to peak (TTP), to evaluate cerebral hemodynamics.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Integrated Head-Neck High-Resolution Vessel Wall MRIBaseline, 6 months, and 12 months after enrollmentIntracranial arterial wall characteristics assessed by high-resolution vessel wall MRI, including vessel wall thickening, enhancement pattern, and lumen diameter.
TCM Symptom ScaleBaseline, at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after enrollmentTraditional Chinese Medicine symptom severity assessed using a standardized TCM Symptom Scale. Total score ranges from 0 to 45, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.
Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)Baseline, at 3 month, 6 months, and 12 months after enrollmentFunctional outcome assessed by the Modified Rankin Scale, ranging from 0 to 6, where higher scores indicate worse functional outcome.
Digital Subtraction AngiographyBaseline, 12 months after enrollmentCerebral angiographic characteristics assessed by digital subtraction angiography, including degree of arterial stenosis/occlusion, collateral vessel formation, and Suzuki stage.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)Baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 months after enrollmentCognitive function assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, with total scores ranging from 0 to 30, where higher scores indicate better cognitive function.
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)Baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months after enrollmentNeurological deficit severity assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, with scores ranging from 0 to 42, where higher scores indicate more severe neurological deficits.
TCM Constitution ClassificationBaseline, at 3 month, 6 month, and 12 months after enrollmentTraditional Chinese Medicine constitution type assessed using a standardized TCM Constitution Classification questionnaire, categorizing participants into predefined constitution types.

Countries

China

Contacts

Primary ContactZiyang He, MD
heziyang0207@gmail.com+86 180 5073 1566
Backup ContactZhigang Yang, MD
yang.zhigang1@zs-hospital.sh.cn+86 137 6122 1410

Outcome results

None listed

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