Neuromodulating Cortical Regions Involved in Neurogenic Bladder in MS (MSBLADDER)

A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial Evaluating Individualized Neuromodulation of Cortical Regions Involved in Neurogenic Overactive Bladder in Multiple Sclerosis

Neurogenic overactive bladder (NOAB), characterized by urinary frequency, urgency or urgency incontinence symptoms occurring during the storage phase of the bladder, is the most common urinary complaint in multiple sclerosis (MS). Current management options for NOAB in MS have limited efficacy and considerable adverse effects, which underscores the significance of this study and highlights the need for better, less invasive therapies. This novel study investigates brain therapeutic targets that could shift the focus of NOAB management in MS from a bladder-centric focus to brain restoration; specifically modulating the brain regions identified in the prior functional magnetic resonance imagining studies. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation that can modulate neurons (excite or inhibit) to improve the connectivity of the regions of interest (ROI). The preliminary data demonstrate, for the first time, significant improvement in bladder symptoms in ten women with MS who have voiding dysfunction following multifocal transcranial magnetic stimulation without any treatment-related adverse effects.

This randomized double-blind, sham-controlled single center clinical trial with an optional open-label extension (OLE) phase is designed to evaluate the effects of targeted rTMS in women with MS and NOAB by investigating restorative reorganization of brain function The main purpose of this study is to determine the effects of individualized repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for improving overactive bladder symptoms such as urinary frequency and urgency with or without incontinence in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients will undergo initial screening that includes a demographics information, physical exam, past medical and surgical history, medication list, urine pregnancy test (female subjects with childbearing potential), and completion of questionnaires to confirm the eligibility of patients. All eligible patients will be required to complete a functional MRI scan followed by locating the regions of interest through neural navigation system and finally receiving 10 treatment sessions.

Since this is a randomized trial, some patients will receive active treatment/ therapy sessions while others will only receive sham or placebo treatments. The total duration to complete all treatment sessions and follow up visits is approximately 4-5 months.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis; Overactive Bladder; Neurogenic Bladder
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Magstim Rapid2 System

Detailed Description

Neurogenic overactive bladder (NOAB), characterized by urinary frequency, urgency or urgency incontinence symptoms occurring during the storage phase of the bladder, is the most common urinary complaint in multiple sclerosis (MS). Current management options for NOAB in MS have limited efficacy and considerable adverse effects, which underscores the significance of this study and highlights the need for better, less invasive therapies. This novel study investigates brain therapeutic targets that could shift the focus of NOAB management in MS from a bladder-centric focus to brain restoration; specifically modulating the brain regions identified in the prior functional magnetic resonance imagining studies. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation that can modulate neurons (excite or inhibit) to improve the connectivity of the regions of interest (ROI). The preliminary data demonstrate, for the first time, significant improvement in bladder symptoms in ten women with MS who have voiding dysfunction following multifocal transcranial magnetic stimulation without any treatment-related adverse effects.

This randomized double-blind, sham-controlled single center clinical trial with an optional open-label extension (OLE) phase is designed to evaluate the effects of targeted rTMS in women with MS and NOAB by investigating restorative reorganization of brain function and improvement of urinary frequency, urgency and incontinence.

Investigators hypothesize that cortical alterations in bladder volume sensing and their response to stimulation contribute to NOAB symptoms in MS, and that improving the response to bladder distention (ROI within circuits 1 and 2) with neuronavigated rTMS can restore brain activity and improve symptoms (frequency, urgency, and incontinence). Investigators will test this hypothesis with the following specific aims:

Aim 1: To determine the clinical effects of neuronavigated and multifocal active/sham rTMS in women with MS and NOAB Aim 2: To assess the neuroimaging restorative effects of neuronavigated active/sham rTMS in women with MS and NOAB Aim 3: To assess the long-term safety and therapeutic effects of repeated rTMS in women with MS and NOAB who participate in the OLE phase (which subjects from both groups will be invited to enter at the 3-month follow up).

Efforts to improve the current knowledge of brain contribution to lower urinary tract function and the development of an individualized, noninvasive, and effective treatment modality at the level of the brain will greatly impact the quality of life for individuals with MS and subsequently others with OAB, whether neurogenic or non-neurogenic

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 29
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Rose Khavari, MD; Phone Number: 7137030660; Email: rkhavari@houstonmethodist.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Betsy Salazar, PhD; Email: bhsalazar@houstonmethodist.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Recruiting
      • Houston Methodist Hospital
      • Contact: Betsy Salazar, PhD; Phone Number: 713-363-9911; Email: bhsalazar@houstonmethodist.org
      • Contact: Hamida Rajab, BS; Phone Number: 713-363-9154; Email: MSBladder@houstonmethodist.org
      • Principal Investigator: Rose Khavari, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult women (≥ 18 years of age)
• Clinically stable MS defined as ExpandedDisability Status Score (EDSS) ≤ 7.5without exacerbation worsening in the preceding 6 months prior to study entry
• Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction symptoms ≥ 3 months with NBSS total ≥ 15
• Individuals with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score >10 will be eligible
• At least one bladder storage symptoms (e.g., urinary frequency, urinary urgency, nocturia with or without incontinence) indicated by OAB -AT≥ 8
• Individuals with active urinary tract infection (UTI) will be treated and will be enrolled after negative urinalysis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant/planning to become pregnant or nursing
• Urodynamic findings of bladder outlet obstruction
• Baclofen or other intrathecal pumps, Pacemakers.
• History of seizure disorder (SZ), immediate family of SZ disorder, in addition to individuals who are taking any medications such as (bupropion) Wellbutrin or substances (ex: heavy alcohol use) that would lower seizure threshold will be excluded.
• History of bipolar disorder, or individuals who are taking medications that can exacerbate the condition such as tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-nor-epinephrine reuptake inhibitors, anti-psychotics, lithium, bupropion (Wellbutrin) and antihistamines will be excluded.
• All intracranial lesions and hemorrhagic stroke will be excluded
• History of moderate to severe heart disease or unstable angina
• History of Autonomic Dysreflexia
• History of interstitial cystitis, pelvic radiation
• Intra-detrusor botulinumtoxinA (BTX-A) injection over the past 6 months
• Incarcerated patients will be excluded.
• Active sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) device or any other spinal stimulators
• Indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Active rTMS; 1 Hz (LF) and 10 Hz (HF) rTMS stimulation will be delivered at 90% of the resting motor threshold for 40 min each week day for two weeks.	Device: Magstim Rapid2 System; The Magstim Rapid2 system is the most commonly used magnetic stimulation system for rTMS clinical studies and therapeutic investigations, capable of selectively inducing, modulating or suppressing neuronal activity. This rTMS device will be used along with the D70 Alpha Coil package, which includes an active coil ideal for focal rTMS and a sham coil, The placebo coil looks identical to its active version and replicates pulse noise without producing the magnetic field necessary to modulate cortical neurons. Additionally, the investigators will be utilizing the StimGuide navigation system (currently available at the HMRI) to accurately target the proposed regions of interest. The Magstim Rapid2 system is indicated to be used in Multiple Sclerosis patients as target users with lower urinary tract symptoms such as urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunction.; Other Names: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Sham Comparator: Sham rTMS; Low-frequency (1Hz) active rTMS stimulation will be delivered with an inert "sham" stimulation coil for 40 min each week day for two weeks.	Device: Magstim Rapid2 System; The Magstim Rapid2 system is the most commonly used magnetic stimulation system for rTMS clinical studies and therapeutic investigations, capable of selectively inducing, modulating or suppressing neuronal activity. This rTMS device will be used along with the D70 Alpha Coil package, which includes an active coil ideal for focal rTMS and a sham coil, The placebo coil looks identical to its active version and replicates pulse noise without producing the magnetic field necessary to modulate cortical neurons. Additionally, the investigators will be utilizing the StimGuide navigation system (currently available at the HMRI) to accurately target the proposed regions of interest. The Magstim Rapid2 system is indicated to be used in Multiple Sclerosis patients as target users with lower urinary tract symptoms such as urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence and voiding dysfunction.; Other Names: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in subjective clinical outcomes following treatment - Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS) Questionnaire	The subjective clinical assessment includes changes in validated questionnaires. This assessment has 24 questions that measure bladder symptoms across 3 different domains: incontinence (score range: 0-29), storage and voiding (score range: 0-22), and consequences (score range: 0-23); the highest score is associated with worse symptoms. The last question focuses on quality of life scored from 0 (pleased) to 4 (unhappy). The investigators report raw scores here for all domains and QoL.	Baseline, 1 week after, 1 month after and 3 months after rTMS treatment
Changes on patient reported outcomes following treatment - 2 day bladder diary	Here the investigators evaluate changes on the number of times that symptoms associated with neurogenic overactive bladder occur in a 24hr period after rTMS treatment. Reported outcomes by patients include the number of times the following occur: voids, nocturia, severe urgency episodes, and urgency urinary incontinence episodes.	Baseline, 1 week after, 1 month after and 3 months after rTMS treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in brain activation patterns following rTMS treatment - functional MRI imaging	Effect of rTMS treatment in increasing/decreasing activation in ROIs known to be involved in bladder function measured by changes in blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal.	Baseline and 1 week after rTMS treatment
Changes in objective clinical outcomes following treatment - Bladder Capacity	The objective clinical assessment includes changes in bladder capacity (mL), which is assessed by collecting both post void residual (PVR) and voided volume (both in mL) in participants after treatment as compared to baseline.	Baseline, 1 week after, 1 month after and 3 months after rTMS treatment
Changes in %Post-Void Residual/Bladder Capacity (PVR/BC) following treatment	Percentage of PVR in proportion to the bladder capacity will be measured before the intervention and post intervention at 1 and 3 months follow up and will be compared between active and sham neurostimulation groups	Baseline, 1 week after, 1 month after and 3 months after rTMS treatment

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in subjective clinical outcomes following treatment - American Urological Association Symptom Score (AUASS) Questionnaire	The subjective clinical assessment includes changes in validated questionnaires. This assessment has 8 questions and is used to assess how bothersome urinary symptoms are and quality of life. The investigators report raw scores here for questions pertaining to voiding symptoms. Questions 1-7 have the following score range: 0-5 (with the highest score associated with worse symptoms). The last question pertains to quality of life and has a score range of: 0-6 (with the highest score associated with very reduced quality of life).	Baseline, 1 week after, 1 month after and 3 months after rTMS treatment
Changes in subjective clinical outcomes following treatment - Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form (IIQ-7)	The subjective clinical assessment includes changes in validated questionnaires. This assessment has 7 questions and is used to assess the impact urine leakage has on a patient's activities, relationships, and feelings. Each question has the following score range: 0-3 (with the highest score associated with higher symptom distress).	Baseline, 1 week after, 1 month after and 3 months after rTMS treatment
Changes in subjective clinical outcomes following treatment - Overactive Bladder (OAB) Awareness Tool	The subjective clinical assessment includes changes in validated questionnaires. The OAB Awareness Tool assessment has 9 questions. It allows participants to score symptoms and illustrates how these symptoms may be affecting quality of life. Questions 1-8 have a score range of 0-5 (the higher the score the more bothersome the symptom is) and the last questions asks if the participant is male (if so 2 points are added to the total score).	Baseline, 1 week after, 1 month after and 3 months after rTMS treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rose Khavari, MD, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Khavari R, Karmonik C, Shy M, Fletcher S, Boone T. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Concurrent Urodynamic Testing Identifies Brain Structures Involved in Micturition Cycle in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. J Urol. 2017 Feb;197(2):438-444. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.09.077. Epub 2016 Sep 21.
• Khavari R, Elias SN, Boone T, Karmonik C. Similarity of functional connectivity patterns in patients with multiple sclerosis who void spontaneously versus patients with voiding dysfunction. Neurourol Urodyn. 2019 Jan;38(1):239-247. doi: 10.1002/nau.23837. Epub 2018 Oct 12.
• Khavari R, Elias SN, Pande R, Wu KM, Boone TB, Karmonik C. Higher Neural Correlates in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Neurogenic Overactive Bladder Following Treatment with Intradetrusor Injection of OnabotulinumtoxinA. J Urol. 2019 Jan;201(1):135-140. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2018.07.066.
• Khavari R, Tran K, Helekar SA, Shi Z, Karmonik C, Rajab H, John B, Jalali A, Boone T. Noninvasive, Individualized Cortical Modulation Using Transcranial Rotating Permanent Magnet Stimulator for Voiding Dysfunction in Women with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Trial. J Urol. 2022 Mar;207(3):657-668. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000002297. Epub 2021 Oct 25.
• Shi Z, Tran K, Karmonik C, Boone T, Khavari R. High spatial correlation in brain connectivity between micturition and resting states within bladder-related networks using 7 T MRI in multiple sclerosis women with voiding dysfunction. World J Urol. 2021 Sep;39(9):3525-3531. doi: 10.1007/s00345-021-03599-4. Epub 2021 Jan 29.
• Tran K, Karmonik C, Boone TB, Khavari R. Are White Matter Tract Integrities Different in Multiple Sclerosis Women With Voiding Dysfunction? Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2021 Jan 1;27(1):e101-e105. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000830.
• Tran K, Shi Z, Karmonik C, John B, Rajab H, Helekar SA, Boone T, Khavari R. Therapeutic effects of non-invasive, individualized, transcranial neuromodulation treatment for voiding dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients: study protocol for a pilot clinical trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2021 Mar 24;7(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s40814-021-00825-z.
• Salazar BH, Hoffman KA, Lincoln JA, Karmonik C, Rajab H, Helekar SA, Khavari R. Evaluating noninvasive brain stimulation to treat overactive bladder in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Urol. 2024 Jan 25;24(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s12894-023-01358-8.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 30, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 10, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Neuromodulation; Functional Neuroimaging; repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS); Neurogenic bladder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Urological Manifestations; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Demyelinating Diseases; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Multiple Sclerosis; Urinary Bladder, Overactive; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic; Therapeutics; Magnetic Field Therapy; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• Other Study ID Numbers: PRO00035884

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