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Trigeminal NeuralgiaNCT03580317

Electroacupuncture Therapy for Change of Pain in Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia

A study testing EA+ Carbamazepine in people with Trigeminal Neuralgia, run by Zhejiang Chinese Medical University at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) is a common neuropathic pain in clinic by recurrent attacks of chronic sharp pain in the distribution of neuropathy branches of trigeminal neuralgia. With the lack of appropriate drug and surgery, acupuncture played a role in analgesia with its effective and few side effects. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Trigeminal Neuralgia
What is being tested?
EA+ Carbamazepine
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
120 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
12 Jul 2018to 31 Jan 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients suffer from the pain with electric shock, shooting, stabbing occurs in one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve.
  • The visual analogue score(VAS) baseline score ≥5, have a attack more than 3 times a day, at least 4 days a week.
  • 18 years ≤ age ≤ 80 years.
  • Clear consciousness, have the ability of pain perception and resolution, can complete the basic communication.
  • Signed informed consent and volunteered to participate in this study.

Who cannot join

  • Those patients with epilepsy, head injury or other related neurological diseases.
  • Patients with serious heart, liver, kidney damage or cognitive impairment, aphasia, mental disorders, or unable to cooperate with the treatment.
  • Combined with hypertension but poor control.
  • Severe depressive with definitive diagnosis recently.
  • Pregnant and lactating patients.
  • Installing pacemakers.
  • For any other reason that is not suitable for the treatment of EA.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • the Third affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical university

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000

Other trials in China

About this study

The classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) is a common neuropathic pain in clinic by recurrent attacks of chronic sharp pain in the distribution of neuropathy branches of trigeminal neuralgia. With the lack of appropriate drug and surgery, acupuncture played a role in analgesia with its effective and few side effects. The study is designed to observe the therapeutic effect and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of CTN.

Read the detailed description

A total of 120 subjects with CTN who met the inclusion criteria will be included in the study. The subjects will be randomly divided into EA+ Carbamazepine group, EA+placebo group, sham EA+Carbamazepine group and sham EA+placebo group. The indexes of main outcome evaluation are 1)Intensity of pain (Evaluation of the pain by VAS with 0-10 points) and 2)Brief introduction of 2-week pain. The indexes of secondary outcome evaluation are 1) Brief Pain Inventory-Facial scale(BPI-Facial); 2) Patient Global Impression of Change(PGIC); 3) Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire; 4) Short- Form 36 Questionnaire. This study will evaluate whether EA has the advantage over carbamazepine in the immediate effect, long-term effect and post effect of the analgesia in CTN. At the same time, the study also will demonstrate whether EA has a synergistic effect with carbamazepine on the treatment of CTN, or even whether EA has an alternative effect on carbamazepine. Furthermore, we will establish a standardized, effective and convenient therapy program of EA to promote according to the results.

Being tested
EA+ Carbamazepine, EA+Placebo, sham EA+Carbamazepine, sham EA+Placebo
Keywords
Classical trigeminal neuralgia, Electroacupuncture, Randomized controlled clinical trial
Medical subject headings
Trigeminal Neuralgia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • EA+ CarbamazepineOther

    Acupoints selection: Si-bai(ST2), Xia-guan(ST7), Di-cang(ST4), Quan-liao(SI18), Jia-che(ST6) and A-shi-xue of affected side. He-gu(LI4) and Wai-guan(TE5) of two sides.

    Operation:The needles(0.18×25 mm) will be selected to stimulate the local points with shallow row needling according to the distribution of neuropathy branch of trigeminal neuralgia.The needles(0.25×40mm) will be selected to stimulate the distal acupoints. The Xia-guan(ST7) and Quan-liao(SL18) (or Jia-che(ST6)), He-gu(LI4) and Wai-guan(SJ5) acupoints will be received EA treatment by HuaTuo SDZ-ⅡB acupoint neural stimulator. The EA parameter is 2/100 Hz, 60 minutes and the current intensity is comfortable to subjects. Carbamazepine tablets should be took orally, 0.1g each time, thrice daily.

  • EA+PlaceboOther

    In this group, the selection, positioning and manipulation of acupoints, the frequency, duration and retaining needle time of treatment are same as EA + Carbamazepine Group; placebo, that appearance and specifications are the same as carbamazepine, are cooperated taken of dose 0.1g, thrice daily.

  • sham EA+CarbamazepineOther

    Selection of points and locations: the non-meridional points which are means to the points beside 5-10mm of the real acupoints (avoid the trigger point) in the EA group will be selected and needled with more shallow acupuncture (the depth of needling is about 1-2mm).

    The operation of shame EA: The HuaTuo SDZ-ⅡB acupoint neural stimulator with damaged electrode wires will be selected to connect the points next to the Xia-guan(ST7) and Quan-liao (SI18) , He-gu (LI4) and Wai-guan(TE5).The frequency, intensity and retaining time will be same as EA group, The subjects can see the display screen and parameter settings of stimulator, however there is no electricity output in fact.

    The dosage and frequency of oral carbamazepine tablets are same as above part.

  • sham EA+PlaceboOther

    The points selection, positioning and manipulation are same as Shame EA+ Carbamazepine group,placebo are cooperated taken of dose 0.1g, thrice daily.

Study groups in NCT03580317
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
EA + Carbamazepine GroupExperimentalThe subjects in this group will receive 3 times per week, and 4 weeks of continuous intervention for a total of 12 times. The intervention including electroacupuncture(EA) treatment and combined with Carbamazepine (0.1g each time, thrice daily). The follow-up period is 6 months.
Receives: Other: EA+ Carbamazepine
EA + Placebo GroupPlacebo comparatorThe subjects in this group will receive 3 times per week, and 4 weeks of continuous intervention for a total of 12 times. The intervention including EA treatment and combined with placebo of carbamazepine. The follow-up period is 6 months.
Receives: Other: EA+Placebo
Sham EA+ Carbamazepine GroupActive comparatorThe subjects in this group will receive 3 times per week, and 4 weeks of continuous intervention for a total of 12 times. The intervention including sham electroacupuncture(sham EA) intervention and combined with carbamazepine. The follow-up period is 6 months.
Receives: Other: sham EA+Carbamazepine
Sham EA+ Placebo GroupSham comparatorThe subjects in this group will receive 3 times per week, and 4 weeks of continuous intervention for a total of 12 times. The intervention including sham EA intervention and combined with placebo took orally. The follow-up period is 6 months.
Receives: Other: sham EA+Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change from Baseline Intensity of Pain to 28 weeks

    Evaluation of the pain by VAS with 0-10 points which that 0 means painless and 10 means very painful.

    Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Brief Pain Inventory-Facial scale(BPI-Facial)

    This instrument is composed of 18 items on a 1-point scale (0-10). 4 questions center on pain intensity, 7 questions deal with the interference of pain with general life activities and the remaining 7 questions deal with the interference of pain with face-specific activities.

    Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks

  2. Patient Global Impression of Change(PGIC)

    This index will record the general change impression of pain for CTN.

    Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks

  3. Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire

    The pain rating index has 2 subscales: these words or items are rated on an intensity scale as 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate and 3 = severe. There's also one item for present pain intensity and one item for a 10cm visual analogue scale for average pain. This version includes 7 additional symptoms related to neuropathic pain, for a total of 22 items with 0-10 numerical response options.

    Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks

  4. Short-Form 36 Questionnaire

    The scale includes: 1.Physical Functioning (PF).2.Physical function (RP).3.Body Pain (BP).4.General Health (GH).5.Vitality.6.Social Functioning (SF)7.Role-emotional (RE).8.Mental Health (MH).

    Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks

  5. The proportion of patients using rescue analgesics

    The proportion of patients using rescue analgesics

    Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks

  6. The frequency of CTN attacks

    Calculated from the pain diary

    Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Jul 2018
  2. Study start12 Jul 2018
  3. Primary completion31 Jan 2021
  4. Study completion31 Jan 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
120 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03580317
Sponsor's protocol ID
2018ZY008-CTN
Status last verified
Sep 2022
First submitted
2 Jun 2018
Last updated
16 Sep 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Montano N, Conforti G, Di Bonaventura R, Meglio M, Fernandez E, Papacci F. Advances in diagnosis and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2015 Feb 24;11:289-99. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S37592. eCollection 2015.

    PubMed 25750533
  • van Kleef M, van Genderen WE, Narouze S, Nurmikko TJ, van Zundert J, Geurts JW, Mekhail N; World Institute of Medicine. 1. Trigeminal neuralgia. Pain Pract. 2009 Jul-Aug;9(4):252-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2009.00298.x.

    PubMed 19619267
  • Wiffen PJ, Derry S, Moore RA, Kalso EA. Carbamazepine for chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Apr 10;2014(4):CD005451. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005451.pub3.

    PubMed 24719027
  • Killian JM, Fromm GH. Carbamazepine in the treatment of neuralgia. Use of side effects. Arch Neurol. 1968 Aug;19(2):129-36. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1968.00480020015001. No abstract available.

    PubMed 4877400
  • Wiffen PJ, McQuay HJ, Moore RA. Carbamazepine for acute and chronic pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Jul 20;(3):CD005451. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005451.

    PubMed 16034977
  • Zhang R, Lao L, Ren K, Berman BM. Mechanisms of acupuncture-electroacupuncture on persistent pain. Anesthesiology. 2014 Feb;120(2):482-503. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000101.

    PubMed 24322588
  • Wu CH, Lv ZT, Zhao Y, Gao Y, Li JQ, Gao F, Meng XF, Tian B, Shi J, Pan HL, Li M. Electroacupuncture improves thermal and mechanical sensitivities in a rat model of postherpetic neuralgia. Mol Pain. 2013 Apr 3;9:18. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-9-18.

    PubMed 23551937
  • Aranha MF, Muller CE, Gaviao MB. Pain intensity and cervical range of motion in women with myofascial pain treated with acupuncture and electroacupuncture: a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial. Braz J Phys Ther. 2015 Jan-Feb;19(1):34-43. doi: 10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0066. Epub 2014 Nov 28.

    PubMed 25714602
  • Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society. The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 2nd edition. Cephalalgia. 2004;24 Suppl 1:9-160. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2003.00824.x. No abstract available.

    PubMed 14979299
  • Truini A, Galeotti F, Cruccu G. New insight into trigeminal neuralgia. J Headache Pain. 2005 Sep;6(4):237-9. doi: 10.1007/s10194-005-0195-9.

    PubMed 16362674
  • Cruccu G, Biasiotta A, Galeotti F, Iannetti GD, Innocenti P, Romaniello A, Truini A. Diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia: a new appraisal based on clinical and neurophysiological findings. Suppl Clin Neurophysiol. 2006;58:171-86. doi: 10.1016/s1567-424x(09)70067-4. No abstract available.

    PubMed 16623330
  • Chen GQ, Wang XS, Wang L, Zheng JP. Arterial compression of nerve is the primary cause of trigeminal neuralgia. Neurol Sci. 2014 Jan;35(1):61-6. doi: 10.1007/s10072-013-1518-2. Epub 2013 Aug 21.

    PubMed 23963805
  • Jia DZ, Li G. Bioresonance hypothesis: a new mechanism on the pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia. Med Hypotheses. 2010 Mar;74(3):505-7. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.09.056. Epub 2009 Nov 8.

    PubMed 19900765
  • Devor M, Amir R, Rappaport ZH. Pathophysiology of trigeminal neuralgia: the ignition hypothesis. Clin J Pain. 2002 Jan-Feb;18(1):4-13. doi: 10.1097/00002508-200201000-00002.

    PubMed 11803297
  • Zakrzewska JM, Linskey ME. Trigeminal neuralgia. BMJ. 2014 Feb 17;348:g474. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g474. No abstract available.

    PubMed 24534115

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing EA+ Carbamazepine in people with Trigeminal Neuralgia, run by Zhejiang Chinese Medical University at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Sep 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change from Baseline Intensity of Pain to 28 weeks (time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 16 weeks, 28 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03580317, which also lists 16 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Sep 2022.

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