Observe Abnormal Potential From the Offending Vessel to the Facial Muscles of HFS Patients

Hemifacial Spasm Clinical Trial

Official title: Observation of the Abnormal Potential From the Offending Vessel to the Facial Muscles of Hemifacial Spasm Patients

Status Enrolling by invitation

Clinical Trial Summary

The pathophysiologic basis of hemifacial spasm is cross-transmission between different branches of the facial nerve. The hypothesis is that the cross-transmission is mediated by the sympathetic nerve fibers on the surface of the offending artery. The abnormal potential from the offending vessel to the facial muscles will be detected on hemifacial spasm patients, so as to determine if the sympathetic nerve fibers take part in the circuit of cross-transmission.

Clinical Trial Description

It's hypothesized that at the location where the facial nerve is compressed by an artery, ephaptic cross-transmission takes place between the nude facial nerve fibers and the sympathetic nerve fibers on the arterial surface. Thus action potentials could spread indirectly from one facial nerve fiber to several other facial nerve fibers (via the "bridge" of sympathetic fibers), or directly from the sympathetic fibers to facial nerve fibers. The investigators assume this is the electrophysiological basis of hemifacial spasm and its characteristic sign abnormal muscle response (AMR). If an abnormal potential from the offending artery to the facial muscles similar to AMR can be recorded, the hypothesis will be verified. ;

Study Design

Observational Model: Case-Only, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hemifacial Spasm

• NCT number: NCT01271634
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 2011
• Completion date: December 2011