CompletedNot Applicable

External Counterpulsation Therapy for Severe Steno-occlusive Intracranial Stenosis

Singapore130 participantsStarted 2019-01-08

Plain-language summary

Intracranial stenosis is prevalent among Asians and constitute a common cause of cerebral ischemia. While the best medical therapy carries stroke recurrence rates in access of 10% per year, intracranial stenting was associated with unacceptable peri-procedural ischemic events. Cerebral ischemic events are strongly related to the severity of intracranial stenosis, being high in patients with severe intracranial stenosis with poor vasodilatory reserve. Enhanced External Counter-Pulsation (EECP) therapy is known to improve myocardial perfusion by facilitating the development of collateral blood vessels in the heart. The investigators hypothesize that EECP therapy may be useful in patients with severe stenosis of intracranial internal carotid (ICA) or middle cerebral artery (MCA).

Who can participate

Age range

21 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Patients with recent stroke/TIA and severe stenosis of intracranial ICA or MCA and impaired CVR within previous three months but not before 3 weeks after acute stroke. This is to differentiate between patients with a long-standing fixed-stenosis from patients with partially recanalized intracranial artery (masquerading as severe stenosis).
. Age \>21 years

Exclusion criteria

. Patients with atrial fibrillation/ arrhythmias.
. Within 2 weeks of cardiac catheterization or arterial puncture at femoral puncture site.
. Decompensated heart failure , usually class 3 or 4

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Improvement in cerebral vasodilatory reserve

Timeframe: at baseline and after 2 months of the completion of EECP therapy

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03921827

SponsorNational University of Singapore

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-03-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Ischemic Stroke trials