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CompletedNCT04793724Updated Mar 2, 2023

Respiratory Physiotherapy Performed by Simeox In Patients With Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

An interventional study of Simeox and PARI O PEP in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, sponsored by University Hospital, Motol. Completed at 1 site in Czechia. Open to participants aged 4 Years to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-03-02.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Motol · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 1 year 7 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jul 2019, registered Feb 2021).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
4 Years to 18 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is characterized by impaired airway clearance and mucus stagnation. This results in recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections often leading to chronic inflammation and, if not treated early and properly, to irreversible functional and structural changes of the respiratory tract. As there is no causal treatment of PCD yet, airway clearance techniques (ACT) provide fundamental care for these patients.

Simeox is a new airway clearance device, recently developed by the French company PhysioAssist. This technology is based on pneumatic vibrations generated by the device itself. Vibrations are induced by rapidly alternating between atmospheric and negative pressure as the patient exhales, providing the most effective clearance of mucus from the lungs. Vibrations of different intensity and frequency are known to alter the rheological properties of mucus in the airways, whilst the negative pressure during exhalation helps to mobilise and drain the mucus to the central bronchi.

Although there have not yet been any evidence based papers published clarifying the effect of Simeox specifically in patients with PCD, using up-to-date information, experience, and positive feedback from our patients, we assume that there could be a significant benefit for the effectiveness of ACT.

Read the detailed description

In this study the effectiveness of ACT will be evaluated based on the short-term effect(s) of respiratory physiotherapy with Simeox on changes in lung function and thoracic expansibility paediatric patients with PCD.

An interventional randomised non-inferiority crossover trial will be conducted in Motol University Hospital; the project was developed by the multidisciplinary team (MDT) of the Division of Paediatric Pulmonology of the Department of Paediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital; and the Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital.

Eligible patients will be randomly assigned into 2 arms - "Simeox-first group" and "Pari-O-PEP first" group. Randomisation will be done using computer generated code for each patient. The protocol will include 3 study visits - K0, K1 and K2 planned 3 months apart. After 6 months (second visit - K1), each patient will be switched to the other interventional group (crossed over). The first session (K0) includes an initial lung function assessment using spirometry, nitrogen-Multiple Breath Washout test (N2-MBW), Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), 6 Minute Walk Test (6 MWT), respiratory amplitudes (RA), and a theoretical introduction to therapy with the Simeox device. The second (K1) and third (K2) sessions will be interventional, including a respiratory physiotherapy session in between each measurement, excluding 6 MWT, which will be measured just once per session.

According to randomisation criteria, participants will initially undergo either physiotherapist-administered 20-minute ACT session using the Simeox device or 30-minute therapy with PARI O-PEP. In accordance with the rules for crossover study design, each patient will undergo therapy with both ACT devices, ideally within six-month duration of the study. These interventions will take place in between each measurement (spirometry, MBW, EIT, RA) during the second (K1) and the third (K2) session.

02

Conditions studied

  • Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Keywords

  • primary ciliary dyskinesia
  • respiratory physiotherapy
  • airway clearance techniques
  • lung function testing
  • ventilation inhomogeneity
  • nitrogen multiple breath washout test
  • spirometry
  • electric impedance tomography
03

In context

Ciliary Motility Disorders

78 studies on the registry are indexed under Ciliary Motility Disorders; 26 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 30 is close to the median of 32 across 24 interventional studies indexed under Ciliary Motility Disorders.

Browse Ciliary Motility Disorders studies →

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Motol is the lead sponsor of 45 studies on the registry; 8 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
4 Years to 18 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • diagnosis of PCD confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis of ciliary ultrastructure showing clear structural axonemal defect and/or positive genetic testing for one (autosomal dominant) or two (autosomal recesive) PCD-causing mutations;
  • age range 4 - 18 years;
  • established chest physiotherapy with PARI O PEP

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • inability to undergo the assessment and intervention
  • noncompliance and/or nonadherence
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
30 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Simeox first

    Patients who will undergo Simeox intervention first. After three months cross-over to PARI O PEP intervention.

    Device: Simeox

  • Active comparator
    PARI O PEP first

    Patients who will undergo PARI O PEP intervention first. After three months cross-over to Simeox intervention.

    Device: PARI O PEP

Interventions

  • DeviceSimeox

    A respiratory physiotherapy session with the Simeox device will be performed in accordance with the official PhysioAssist recommendations, which are; * clearance of the upper airways before the physiotherapy session * correct position of the mouthpiece in patient's mouth, with the lips placed on the thinnest part of the mouthpiece and the tongue positioned underneath the mouthpiece * slow nasal inhalation without too much recruitment of the inspiratory residual volume (IRV) and an exhalation with real deflation of the thorax * step-by-step shifting of the patient's tidal volume towards the expiratory residual volume (ERV), in order to target the most distal regions of the lungs * comfortable, relaxed sitting position with straightened spine * controlled cough, which will be encouraged only when it is productive

  • DevicePARI O PEP

    ACT with PARI O-PEP will be performed in an upright sitting position, using four positions of the device for the most effective clearance of mucus from the lungs. These positions will be: * horizontal; * low; * transition of the device from the low position to the horizontal position; * upside down. The mouthpiece will be placed between the patient's teeth as per standard procedure, and enclosed properly within the lips. Patients will perform slow and deep inhalation via the nose, then hold their breath for about 1 to 2 seconds at the end of inhalation. Exhalation will be performed slowly and completely into the PARI O-PEP through the patient's mouth. At the end of the session, the patient will perform "huffing" with the PARI O-PEP device in the upside down position in order to maintain open airways, and, if possible, expectoration sputum.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Lung Clearance Index

    Ventilation Inhomogenity Assesment

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Forced Residual Capacity (FRC)

    Volume of air present in the lungs at the end of passive expiration, in Litres \[L\].

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  2. Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

    Volume of air that can forcibly be blown out after full inspiration, in Litres \[L\]

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  3. Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)

    Volume of air exhaled in the first second during forced exhalation after full inspiration, in Litres per second \[L/s\]

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  4. Change in Maximal Expiratory Flow (MEF25-75)

    Volume of air where the certain amount (25-75%) of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) remains to be exhaled, in Litres \[L\]

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  5. Change in Acinar airway inhomogeneity (Sacin)

    MBW indices reflecting ventilation inhomogeneity in the acinar airway region, in Litres \[L\]

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  6. Change in Conductive airway inhomogeneity (Scond)

    MBW indices reflecting ventilation inhomogeneity in the conductive airway region, in Litres \[L\]

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Other outcomes

  1. Change in Global Inhomogeneity (GI) Index

    Electrical Impedance Tomography parameter evaluating real-time spatial distribution of ventilation

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  2. Change in chest expansion measurement

    Chest expanson at axillary, mesosternal (mammary) and xiphosternal levels

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Motol University Hospital
    Praha, Praha 5 150 06, Czechia
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 2, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04793724
Lead sponsor
University Hospital, Motol
Responsible party
Anna Chmelarova, Mgr (Principal Investigator, University Hospital, Motol) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 11, 2021
Start date
Jul 15, 2019
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2022
Completion
Feb 28, 2023
Last update
Mar 2, 2023

Study contacts

Anna Chmelarova, MD
principal investigator · Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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