Efficacy in iNPH Shunting (PENS) Trial (PENS)

August 6, 2026 updated by: Johns Hopkins University

A Placebo-Controlled Efficacy in iNPH Shunting (PENS) Trial

The Placebo-Controlled Efficacy in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) Shunting (PENS) trial is a multi-center blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled design investigation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt surgery to study the shunt efficacy in iNPH patients.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The primary intervention will be setting the FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard, programmable CSF shunt valve to active (open shunt group)(setting 4)(110 mm H2O) or placebo (closed shunt group)(setting 8)(>400 mm H2O)in a 1:1 ratio. By the time of the primary objective evaluation at three months, the closed shunt group will have zero months of active treatment, and the open shunt group will have three months of active treatment. At three months, shunts for subjects in the closed shunt group will be adjusted to setting 4. To maintain blinding, all patients will be adjusted / mock adjusted to the active setting in a similar fashion. Patients from both groups will not be adjusted before three months of active treatment, unless judged medically necessary by the treating team. Following the three month visit, all subjects in each group will have shunt adjustments according to clinical standards at each center.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
99

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
      • Vancouver, Canada
        • University of British Columbia
    • Alberta
      • Calgary, Alberta, Canada, AB T2N 1N4
        • University Of Calgary
  • Sweden
      • Umeå, Sweden, 901 87
        • Umeå University
  • United States
    • California
      • Davis, California, United States, 95616
        • University of California, Davis
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90089
        • University of Southern California
      • Santa Monica, California, United States, 90404
        • Pacific Neuroscience Institute
    • Florida
      • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612
        • University of South Florida
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
        • Emory University
    • Indiana
      • Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202
        • Indiana University
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
        • Johns Hopkins University
    • Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
        • Mayo Clinic
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10029
        • Mount Sinai Health System
      • New York, New York, United States, 10016
        • New York University Langone Health
    • North Carolina
      • Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27157-1029
        • Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
    • Oregon
      • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239
        • Oregon Health & Science University
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390-8855
        • The University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98195
        • University of Washington

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age ≥ 60 years; and
  2. Diagnosis of iNPH and recommendation for shunt surgery based on the Investigator's clinical judgement based on criteria and testing as described in the iNPH Guidelines;
  3. Evans Ratio ≥ 0.30; and
  4. One positive supplementary test to include either large volume Lumbar Puncture or extended CSF drainage per institutional standards; and
  5. History or evidence of gait impairment (such as decreased step height or length, decreased speed, retropulsion as described in the iNPH Guidelines) duration ≥ 6 months; and
  6. Participant has the sensory motor skills, communication skills and understanding to comply with the testing and reporting required in the PENS trial; and
  7. Participant is able to give written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Unable to walk 10 meters with or without an assistive device; or
  2. Baseline fastest gait velocity (out of three gait trials) >1 m/sec prior to drainage trial and fastest gait velocity improvement is < 30% with or without an assistive device; or
  3. Unable to return to the study center for follow up evaluation and shunt programming; or
  4. Participant is not medically cleared for shunt surgery per local standards; or
  5. Secondary NPH. (Prior encephalitis, meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury (including concussion) within two years or with brain injury or skull fracture on baseline imaging, brain abscess, brain tumor, obstructive hydrocephalus (including acquired aqueductal stenosis and carcinomatous meningitis); or
  6. Prior or existing shunts, endoscopic third ventriculostomy, or any previous surgical intervention for hydrocephalus; or
  7. Previous intracranial neurosurgical procedure; or
  8. Symptomatic cerebral or cerebellar infarction occurring within 6 months from screening (asymptomatic lacunar infarctions are permitted); or
  9. Diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndrome that, in the investigator's judgment, will complicate the outcome evaluation; or
  10. Diagnosis of schizophrenia or any psychiatric diagnosis (including depression) that, in the investigator's judgment, will complicate the outcome evaluation (such as neuroleptic treatment for schizophrenia); or
  11. Diagnosis of dementia disorder where the investigator considers cognition deficit limits participation in the study; or
  12. Conditions impairing gait that are considered to be unrelated to hydrocephalus, such as hemiparesis, spasticity, cerebellar ataxia or musculoskeletal and joint disease, which will interfere with gait assessment or the potential for gait improvement.
  13. Individuals with contraindication to MRI (e.g., implanted electric and electronic devices, aneurysm clip(s), any metallic fragment or foreign body, coronary and peripheral artery stents, cardiac pacemaker, known claustrophobia, or known/possible pregnancy or breast-feeding) will be excluded according to institutional guidelines.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Open Shunt Group
FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard, programmable CSF shunt valve setting to active (open shunt group)(setting 4)(110 mm H2O) at time of shunt implantation
Device: programmable CSF shunt valve
Brain shunt surgery using a programmable CSF shunt valve
Other Names:
  • FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard
Sham Comparator: Closed Shunt Group
FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard, programmable CSF shunt valve setting to placebo (closed shunt group)(setting 8)(>400 mm H2O) at time of shunt implantation followed by setting to active (setting 4) (110 mm H2O) three months after the procedure.
Device: programmable CSF shunt valve
Brain shunt surgery using a programmable CSF shunt valve
Other Names:
  • FDA-approved Certas Plus with Siphonguard

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Gait Velocity
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months
Evaluation of CSF shunting in iNPH patients through a group comparison of change from baseline at three months between active and placebo-controlled groups, using the primary endpoint of gait velocity (in meters per second).
Baseline and 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Cognition as Assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months
Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at three months using MoCA test to assess cognition. Scores on the MoCA range from 0 to 30, with a score of 26 and higher generally considered normal.
Baseline and 3 months
Change in Bladder Control as Assessed by the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, Short Form
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months
Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at three months using Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, short form (OAB-q sf.) to assess bladder control. Total score range 0- to 100, with lower score indicating greater effect, i.e., worse QOL.
Baseline and 3 months
Change in Balance and Gait as Assessed by the Tinetti Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 months
Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at three months using Tinetti Score to assess balance and gait. Scores on the Tinetti range from 0 to 28. The higher the score the better the gait and balance performance.
Baseline and 3 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Bladder Control as Assessed by the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, Short Form
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 months of active shunting
Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at nine months using Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, short form (OAB-q sf.) to assess bladder control. All scale scores are transformed to a 0- to 100-point scale, with lower scores indicating greater effect, i.e., worse QOL.
Baseline and 12 months of active shunting
Change in Gait Velocity
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 months of active shunting
Evaluate the change in gait velocity among all study participants between baseline and 12 months of active shunting, using the primary outcome of gait velocity (in meters per second).
Baseline and 12 months of active shunting
Cognition as Assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 months of active shunting
Evaluate the effect of shunting between active and placebo-controlled groups at nine months using MoCA test to assess cognition. Scores on the MoCA range from zero to 30, with a score of 26 and higher generally considered normal.
Baseline and 12 months of active shunting

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Johns Hopkins University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Mark Luciano, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University
  • Study Director: Richard Holubkov, PhD, University of Utah

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 18, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 24, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 24, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 5, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 5, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 18, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00305245
  • 1U01NS122764 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • PENS (Other Identifier: Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurosurgery)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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