Bilateral Internal Pallidum Stimulation in Primary Generalized Dystonia

Primary generalized dystonia, also called idiopathic torsion dystonia or dystonia musculorum deformans is a disabling neurological condition which usually starts in childhood, mostly in a lower limb and spreads to other body parts as the disease progresses. Medical treatment is usually ineffective and most patients become wheelchair bound or even bedridden. Recently several case series and one RCT reported favourable results of bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) for primary generalized dystonias. However, the number of patients treated with bilateral GPi stimulation is still limited. Therefore, we propose a RCT to investigate whether bilateral DBS of the GPi is an effective and safe treatment in patients with primary generalized dystonia.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Dystonia; Primary Generalized Dystonia
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: deep brain stimulation of the internal globus pallidus

Detailed Description

Study design and methods:

This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study comparing the effect of bilateral DBS of the GPi with placebo in patients with invalidating primary generalized dystonia. After inclusion in the study (see in/exclusioncriteria), a preoperative formal baseline assessment is performed. Within six weeks after the inclusion the patients undergo the stereotactic implantation of the stimulation equipment in the GPi. Immediately after surgery the patients are randomly allocated to direct stimulation (treatment group) or delayed stimulation (control group), in which the stimulator will se switched on 0 Volt before discharge from the hospital by an independent neurologist or neurosurgeon. The patients in both groups are able to control whether the stimulation is active (>0 Volt) or not. In this way the patients and the assessors are blinded. In each centre the postoperative care of the patients will take place according to a stratified stimulation parameter protocol which assures comparable information in both groups. Six months postoperatively, the first formal outcome assessment is performed by the same blinded assessor. After completion of this assessment the stimulators in the control group are activated by an independent neurologist or neurosurgeon. From this moment, all 24 patients have active DBS. However, the patients and blinded assessor remain unaware of the result of the randomisation. All patients are followed for another six months after which the second outcome assessment is made by the same assessor. Four Dutch centres experienced in DBS have agreed to participate in the study. It is estimated that each centre will include at least 4 patients. Because these centra are geographically spread over the country patients can be operated and controlled nearby.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Elisabeth MJ Foncke, MD; Phone Number: 58966 0031205669111; Email: e.m.foncke@amc.uva.nl
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Hans Speelman, MD,PhD; Phone Number: 63963 0031205669111; Email: j.d.speelman@amc.uva.nl

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1100 DD
    • Recruiting
    • Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Center
    • Contact: Elisabeth MJ Foncke, MD; Phone Number: 58966 0031205669111; Email: e.m.foncke@amc.uva.nl
    • Principal Investigator: Elisabeth MJ Foncke, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years to 60 years (ADULT, CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Invalidating primary generalized dystonia (BFMDRS-motor part >= 35)
2. Disease duration >= 5 yrs
3. Age at surgery between 12 and 60
4. Insufficient improvement with pharmacological and physical therapy
5. Signed informed consent, for patients < 19 yrs of age a written consent of the parent(s) or caretaker(s) is needed.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Mental retardation or dementia (MMSE <24)
2. Depressive state (HADS>21)
3. History of former stereotactic brain surgery
4. Severe brain atrophy
5. General surgical contraindications, such as uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular or pulmonary risks, disturbances of bloodclotting.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: DOUBLE

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
change in BFMDRS-motor score from baseline to six months after stimulation equipment implantation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
BFMDRS-disability score
MOS-SF-36 (Medical Outcome Scale)
GOS (Global Outcome Scale)
Neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric validated scales
Questionnaire designed for the registration of the number and extent of morbidity due to the surgical
procedure, stimulation equipment and active stimulation

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)
• Collaborators: Princess Beatrix Muscle Foundation
• Investigators: Study Chair: Hans Speelman, PhD, Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Foncke EM, Speelman JD. [Primary generalized dystonia and deep brain stimulation: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre study]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005 May 14;149(20):1123-4. Dutch.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2005
• Study Completion: December 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 4, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 4, 2006
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): January 5, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): January 5, 2006
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 4, 2006
• Last Verified: January 1, 2006

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: dystonia
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Movement Disorders; Dyskinesias; Dystonia; Dystonic Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: DYSPAS