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TerminatedNCT00221689Updated Jun 13, 2007

Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy and Paroxysmal Dysautonomia in Severe Brain-Injured Patients

A Phase 2 interventional study of baclofen (drug) in Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Anoxia and Coma, sponsored by University Hospital, Bordeaux. Terminated at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2007-06-13.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Bordeaux · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
very slow recruitment and treatments beyond expiry date
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
4
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Within the framework of a prospective double-blind and randomized study evaluating the efficacy of continuous intrathecal baclofen therapy (CIBT) on paroxysmal dysautonomia (main objective) and hypertonia, recovery and tolerance (secondary objectives) during the initial recovery phase of severe head injury, continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion will be delivered. The first week of study is double-blind: the first of two parallel groups receives CIBT and the second group receives placebo. The main outcome (number of neurovegetative episodes) is assessed at the end of first week. The second week of study is open labeled: active treatment is continued in the first group and the second group starts active CIBT treatment. The third week of study, treatment is stopped in both groups.

Read the detailed description

Background. Severe brain trauma and especially serious brain lesions inducing coma lead to many cases of disability. A large number of these patients (about 30%) present neurovegetative and hypertonic episodes that are associated to a bad vital prognosis and the degree of disability. Several teams including two in France have reported the efficacy of intrathecal baclofen on such neurovegetative episodes that to date have not been able to be treated efficiently.

Objectives. The main objective of this trial is to assess the efficacy of infused intrathecal baclofen on the number of neurovegetative episodes in seriously brain-injured patients. The secondary aims are to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment on hypertonia, to assess changes in waking and treatment safety.

Study design. Double-blind randomized trial on two parallel groups. The second part of the study is open label: both groups receive the experimental treatment.

Intervention

Experimental group: continuous progressive dose of intrathecal baclofen for one week; constant dose of baclofen during the second week receives at a dose determined after the first week. Treatment is stopped after two weeks, but patients are assessed until the end of the third week.

Control group: intrathecal placebo for one week; progressive dose of intrathecal baclofen during the second week. Treatment is stopped after two weeks, but patients are assessed until the end of the third week.

Outcomes. The main outcome is the number of neurovegetative episodes in the last 48 hours of the first week of treatment. Secondary outcomes are hypertonia as measured by the Ashworth scale on D2 to D5 of all three weeks. Waking will be assessed by the WHIM scale on D5 each week. Adverse events are assessed throughout the 3 weeks of study.

Eligibility criteria. Inclusion criteria are focal or diffuse encephalic lesions leading to coma (Glasgow score \<8), age 18 years or over, in waking phase (spontaneous eye-opening) since at least one month and less than six months, severe hypertonia of the lower members (mean Ashworth score >= 3) with neurovegetative episodes (at least 10 in 48 hours) and/or decortication after failure of treatment per os (clonidine, beta-blocker, baclofen per os). Non inclusion criteria are surgical, anesthetic or allergic contraindication to baclofen, uncontrolled sepsis directly threatening the implanted device or associated medullary trauma.

Expected results. Throughout the trial the patients will be hospitalized in the neurosurgical or neurological intensive care departments. Expected results are a very clear decrease in the number of neurovegetative episodes and a substantial reduction in hypertonia, at least in the lower limbs. It will also be possible to quantify the consequences of these improvements on waking.

02

Conditions studied

  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Cerebral Anoxia
  • Coma
  • Hypertonia
  • Dysautonomia

Keywords

  • Severe brain injury
  • Coma
  • Hypertonia
  • Dysautonomia
  • Baclofen
  • Randomized Controlled Trials
03

In context

Brain Injuries

2,113 studies on the registry are indexed under Brain Injuries; 385 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 4 is below the median of 48 across 1,331 interventional studies indexed under Brain Injuries.

Browse Brain Injuries studies →

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Bordeaux is the lead sponsor of 783 studies on the registry; 188 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • severe brain injury with coma (Glasgow score \<8)
  • Early phase of recovery (spontaneous eye-opening) since at least one month and less than six months
  • severe hypertonia of the lower limbs (mean Ashworth score >= 3) with neurovegetative episodes (at least 10 in 48 hours) and/or decortication after failure of treatment per os (clonidine, beta-blocker, baclofen per os)
  • written informed consent (next of kin)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • surgical, anesthetic or allergic contraindication to baclofen
  • uncontrolled sepsis directly threatening the implanted device
  • associated medullary trauma
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double
Enrollment
4 participants (actual)

Interventions

  • Drugbaclofen (drug)
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of neurovegetative episodes

    Time frame: day 6 and day 7

Secondary outcomes

  1. Ashworth scale

  2. Whim scale

  3. Adverse events

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Service de neurochirurgie B, Hôpital Pellergin Tripode
    Bordeaux, 33076, France
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 13, 2007, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00221689
Lead sponsor
University Hospital, Bordeaux
Collaborators
Ministry of Health, France
First posted
Sep 22, 2005
Start date
Mar 2003
Completion
Feb 2004
Last update
Jun 13, 2007

Study contacts

Emmanuel Cuny, Professor
principal investigator · University Hospital, Bordeaux
Paul Perez, Dr
study chair · University Hospital, Bordeaux

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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