PASC / Long COVID / post-COVID syndrome Long COVID
Conditions
Interventions
INTERVENTION: Participants received: 1) high-frequency (10 Hz, 110% motor threshold amplitude) rTMS (Magstim system) over the left DLPFC with individual targeting (by MRI neuronavigation) or 2) a cont
Sponsors
Amsterdam UMC
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a participant must meet all of the following criteria: World Health Organization (WHO) long COVID criteria =18 years oldsevere cognitive complaints score =18 on the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) concentration scalesevere fatigue complaints (validated cutoffs measured with a score =35 on the CIS fatigue subscale)Commitment to actively undergo rTMS and be able to travelCapacity for providing informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: A potential participant who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:Prior rTMS treatment or current intensive/experimental treatment for long COVIDDiagnosis (or history) of epilepsy or a first degree relative with epilepsy recent (<6 weeks) dose changes of psychotroptic medication (including antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs), and 2 weeks for benzodiazepines. Dose must remain stable during rTMS treatment. Other active concurrent pharmacological treatments for post-covid symptoms Cochlear implantExtreme claustrophobia or metallic objects in or on the body (non-removable) preventing for MRI participationpatients who suffer from multiple sclerosis or another neurodegenerative disorderPregnant womenbrain lesions that could affect seizure threshold or large ischaemic scarsindividuals suffering from extreme sleep deprivation during rTMS proceduresindividuals with a heavy consumption of alcohol (males/females: 21/14 units per week) or those using epileptogenic drugsindividuals with severe heart disease or with increased intracranial pressure be used on those who have uncontrolled migraines MagStim specific:patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis or another neurodegenerative disorderPregnant womenbrain lesions that could affect seizure threshold or large ischaemic scarsindividuals suffering from extreme sleep deprivation during rTMS proceduresindividuals with a heavy consumption of alcohol (males/females: 21/14 units per week) or those using epileptogenic drugsindividuals with severe heart disease or with increased intracranial pressure and on those who have uncontrolled migraines
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| fatigue measured with a validated questionnaire (individual resilience checklist) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Objective cognitive function: (composite score) measured with a short neuropsychological examinationMRI: to measure brain activity, perfusion and the degree of neuroinflammationBlood: to measure biomarkers of (neuro)inflammation (e.g. GFAP) and brain damage (e.g. NfL)Questionnaires: patient reported outcomes (sleep, mood, subjective cognitive functioning, quality of life, pain and coping) | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Contacts
Public ContactS.C.J. Verfaillie
Amsterdam UMC
Outcome results
None listed