Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma Versus Whole Blood for Epidural Patch in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension

May 22, 2026 updated by: Fang Luo, Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma Versus Whole Blood for Epidural Patch in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: A Multi-center, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a condition characterized by refractory orthostatic headache, mostly due to leaks of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Epidural patch with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which contains numerous growth factors and cytokines, has been reported as a new and promising alternative for current standard whole blood patching. However, there is no study comparing the efficacy and safety of the two approaches. In this study, we aimed to provide data concerning the outcomes of PRP patching versus conventional whole blood patching for treatment of refractory SIH cases failing in conservative therapy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

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.

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 (Estimated)

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.
218

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

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

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Informed consent to participate the research obtained from the patient
  • Satisfies the criteria for SIH according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • There was concern for other causes of intracranial hypotension, such as postdural puncture, postsurgical and post-traumatic CSF leaks
  • Prior treatment with EBP at any time previously
  • Any contraindication to epidural puncture, such as space-occupying intracranial or intraspinal lesions, spinal defect, suspected infection over the puncture site, bleeding disorder and current anticoagulation therapy
  • History of drug and alcohol abuse, cognitive dysfunction, or mental illness
  • Unable to cooperate with postoperative evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up visits

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: Single

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.
Experimental: PRP Patch (PP)
Procedure: PRP Patch group
Autologous PRP was prepared with the 2-stage centrifugation method and mixed with iohexol contrast. We chose two separate sites for epidural access. A standard epidural puncture was conducted under the guidance of CT. The PRP mixture was titrated slowly into the epidural space and must be stopped immediately to patient's perception of backache or irradiating pain. A strict bed stay for 48 h was prescribed in supine position postoperatively.
Active Comparator: Whole blood patch (WP)
Procedure: Whole Blood Patch Group
Autologous whole blood was prepared and mixed with iohexol contrast. We chose two separate sites for epidural access. A standard epidural puncture was conducted under the guidance of CT. The whole blood mixture was titrated slowly into the epidural space and must be stopped immediately to patient's perception of backache or irradiating pain. A strict bed stay for 48 h was prescribed in supine position postoperatively.

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
The complete relief rate of patients with SIH
Time Frame: At 3 months after first epidural patch
The complete relief was defined as the pain intensity of 0-1/10 on NRS or/and minimal symptoms post-procedurally.
At 3 months after first epidural patch

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
Pain intensity of orthostatic headache
Time Frame: At 48 hours, 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months after first epidural patch
Pain intensity was evaluated by pain numeric rating scale (NRS; 0 = no pain, 10 = unbearable pain).
At 48 hours, 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months after first epidural patch
The complete relief rate of patients with SIH
Time Frame: At 48 hours, 2 weeks and 6 months after first epidural patch
The complete relief was defined as the pain intensity of 0-1/10 on NRS or/and minimal symptoms post-procedurally.
At 48 hours, 2 weeks and 6 months after first epidural patch
The good response rate of patients with SIH.
Time Frame: At 48 hours, 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months after first epidural patch
Good response was defined as a headache reduction of at least 50%, with improvement of orthostatic component post-procedurally.
At 48 hours, 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months after first epidural patch
The failure rate in each group.
Time Frame: At 6 months after first epidural patch
Failure was defined as a persistent or worsening symptom with less than 50% of headache reduction within 72 hour post-procedurally.
At 6 months after first epidural patch
The recurrence rate in each group.
Time Frame: At 6 months after first epidural patch
Recurrence was defined as fresh onset of orthostatic headache in completely relieved patients beyond the 72-hour mark.
At 6 months after first epidural patch
Patients'quality of life
Time Frame: At 3 and 6 months after first epidural patch
Patients'quality of life was evaluated by Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), with six item scores of headache-related disability divided into 36-49 (little or no impact), 50-55 (some impact), 56-59 (substantial impact), and ≥60 (severe impact).
At 3 and 6 months after first epidural patch
Patients' overall satisfaction
Time Frame: At 6 months after first epidural patch
Patients' overall satisfaction was graded into very unsatisfactory (1), unsatisfactory (2), neutral (3), satisfactory (4) and very satisfactory (5), according to the Likert scale.
At 6 months after first epidural patch
The occurrence of complications in each group.
Time Frame: During and after first epidural patch until the end of 6-month follow up.
During and after first epidural patch until the end of 6-month follow up.
The percent of patients requiring repeat epidural patch in each group
Time Frame: Within 6- month follow up
Within 6- month follow up

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.
Beijing Tiantan Hospital

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 (Estimated)

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 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
December 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
March 1, 2029

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).
May 16, 2026

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.
May 16, 2026

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.
May 22, 2026

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.
May 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.
May 22, 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.
May 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.
  • ky2023-263-03-09

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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