NCT00859859

Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 23 (actual)
• Sponsor: Northwell Health · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the short-term effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) by auricular stimulation (stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve which innervates the ear) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is characterized by a chronic systemic inflammation affecting the joints but also carries an increased risk for extra-articular manifestations as well as other organ manifestations such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), which significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in this disorder.

Conditions

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Vagus Nerve Stimulation	1. Vagus nerve stimulation for 5 minutes with an oscillatory device (Brookstone) used in previous experimental animal studies for stimulating the vagus nerve on the neck by carotid massage. The oscillatory part of this pen-like device is approximately 0,5 cm2. 2. Basic lab tests (metabolic panel and CBC with differential) and monocyte cytokine synthesis and other inflammatory markers will be analyzed.

Timeline

• Start date: 2006-10-01
• Primary completion: 2009-02-01
• Completion: 2009-02-01
• First posted: 2009-03-11
• Last updated: 2011-07-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States