Non-invasive Vagal Neurostimulation (nVNS) in Adolescents With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Pilot Study--The Effects of Non-invasive Vagal Neurostimulation (nVNS) in Adolescents With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

The purpose of this study is to determine if nVNS will decrease autonomic symptom intensity (COMPASS-31 and Child Functional Disability Inventory) in adolescent patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in comparison to standard recovery STEPS management.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Postural Tachycardia Syndrome; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome; Autonomic Dysfunction; POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: STEPS management protocol; Device: GammaCore intervention

Detailed Description

Project purpose: The investigators will study the use of non invasive vagal nerve stimulation in newly diagnosed adolescent patients with POTS to see if symptom management improves over 2 months. Surveys will include COMPASS-31. Child Functional Disability Inventory, and PHQ-9. Patient logs will evaluate headache frequency, exercise duration and VNS use.

Research objectives: The investigators hypothesize that:

Primary Aim 1. Use of noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation will decrease autonomic symptom intensity compared to control group.

Primary Aim 2. Use of noninvasive vagal nerve stimulator will improve child function.

Primary Aim 3. Heart rate elevation measured by head up tilt table test will decrease in the treatment group compared to the control group.

Secondary goals include:

Secondary Aim 1: To determine if utilization of noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation influences headache frequency

Secondary Aim 2: Determine if utilization of noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation will influence weekly duration of aerobic exercise.

Secondary Aim 3: Determine if utilization of noninvasive vagal nerve stimulator results in significant side effects, particularly depression, in adolescent patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Minnesota
    • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
      • Mayo Clinic in Rochester
    • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55901
      • Mayo Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion criteria:

1. Patient's age 12-19 years of age
2. Newly diagnosed POTS at Mayo Clinic in Rochester
3. Head up tilt table test results in a heart rate increase of 40 or more bpm
4. Consent is able to be obtained appropriately per age

Exclusion criteria:

1. POTS patients with orthostatic hypotension
2. POTS patients with vasovagal syncope
3. Use of medications other than midodrine or metoprolol
4. Inability to independently utilize the GammaCore device
5. Inability to independently complete surveys or patient logs
6. Patients receiving hormonal therapy other than birth control
7. Pregnancy
8. Prior neck surgery
9. Metallic implant present
10. Cardiac disorder
11. Presence of an eating disorder
12. Use of a feeding tube

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Standard Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome management/ STEPS; The General Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine providers at Mayo Clinic utilize a specific management program for their patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome utilizing the acronym STEPS. S is for liberal intake of salt, T is for drinking 90-100 ounces/day of fluid, E is for slowly and gradually improve continuous aerobic exercise duration to a goal of 50 minute most days of the week, P is for possible utilization of 1 of two prescription medications (metoprolol or midodrine), and S is for setting priorities and goals such as encouraging good sleep hygiene, attendance at school, social interactions, and counseling.	Other: STEPS management protocol; STEPS is the acronym for the standard management program for our patients with POTS. It includes liberal use of salt, taking in 90-100 ounces of fluid, gradually increasing the duration of aerobic exercise, possible use of one of two prescription medications (metoprolol, and midodrine), and encouragement to set priority and goals
Experimental: STEPS + GammaCore Intervention (noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation); Utilization of STEPS management goals plus the addition of non invasive vagal nerve stimulators for two 2 minutes of intervention performed three times a day.	Other: STEPS management protocol; STEPS is the acronym for the standard management program for our patients with POTS. It includes liberal use of salt, taking in 90-100 ounces of fluid, gradually increasing the duration of aerobic exercise, possible use of one of two prescription medications (metoprolol, and midodrine), and encouragement to set priority and goals; Device: GammaCore intervention; Use of the vagal nerve stimulator, GammaCore, on the right side of the neck for two 2 minute stimulations performed 3 times a day; Other Names: external vagal nerve stimulator, non-invasive vagal nerve stimulator

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The Change in Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS-31)	The change in COMPASS-31 score from baseline to 8 weeks. COMPASS-31 measures autonomic dysfunction in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. It consists of 31 patient-reported questions assessing various symptoms, including orthostatic intolerance, vasomotor symptoms, and gastrointestinal issues. Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.	Baseline; 8 Weeks
The Change in Child Functional Disability Inventory Scores	The change in Child Functional Disability Inventory scores from baseline to eight weeks. The Child Functional Disability Inventory assesses the physical and psychosocial functioning of children due to their physical health. It consists of 15 items that measure activity limitations due to being sick or not feeling well. The total scores range from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating greater perceived functional disability.	Baseline; 8 Weeks
The Change in Heart Rate (Beats Per Minute) in Head up Tilt Table Tests	The change in heart rate, measured in beats per minute (BPM), in the head up tilt table test (HUTT) from baseline to 8 weeks.	Baseline; 8 Weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in the Number of Headaches Experienced by Adolescent Patients With POTS	The change in the number of headaches from baseline to 8 weeks experienced by adolescent patients with POTS.	Baseline; 8 Weeks
Change in Exercise Duration (Minutes) in Adolescent Patients With POTS	The change in the exercise duration (minutes) in adolescent patients with POTS from baseline to 8 weeks.	Baseline; 8 Weeks
Change in PHQ-9 Scores in Adolescent Patients With POTS	The change in the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) scale score from baseline to 8 weeks. PHQ-9 is used to assess severity of depression. Scoring is calculated by assigning scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3 to the response categories, respectively, of "not at all," "several days," "more than half the days," and "nearly every day." Total score ranges from 0 to 27 where 0 is no depression, 1-4 is minimal depression, 5-9 is mild depression, 10-14 is moderate depression, and 15-19 is moderately severe depression and 20-27 severe depression.	Baseline; 8 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mayo Clinic
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lytitia Shea, MD, Mayo Clinic

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Mayo Clinic Clinical Trials

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 14, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 5, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 5, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 13, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 13, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): February 20, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 31, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Orthostatic Intolerance; Primary Dysautonomias; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: 22-011492

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