Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

EPO-T aims to investigate (i) whether short-term add-on treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) can reduce cognitive side-effects of ECT and (ii) whether such effects are long-lasting. Further, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to explore the neural underpinnings of such beneficial effects of EPO. Finally, the trial examines whether potential protective effects of EPO on cognition are accompanied by changes in markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroplasticity. It is hypothesized that EPO treatment will (i) counteract ECT-induced cognitive decline, accompanied by (ii) increased sub-regional hippocampal volume, (iii) greater memory-related hippocampal activation and reinforcement of dorsolateral prefrontal activity during memory encoding and working memory, and (iv) changes in peripheral markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and neuroplasticity. Furthermore, we hypothesize that add-on EPO-treatment will produce greater, more sustained mood improvement than ECT treatment alone.


Clinical Trial Description

The trial will include patients with a diagnosis of major depression (MDD) unipolar disorder (UD) or bipolar disorder (BD) with a current moderate to severe depressive episode symptoms (a score of >17 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-items (HRDS-17) scheduled for ECT treatment. Patients will be recruited from Psychiatric Centres in The Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark and will undergo an eligibility assessment prior to randomization to 4 intravenous infusions of either recombinant human EPO (40.000 IU/ml; Epoetin alpha; Eprex, Janssen-Cilag) or placebo (1 ml NaCl) diluted with 100 ml saline (0.9% NaCl). Cognitive functions, mood symptoms, and blood- and urine markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuroplasticity will be assessed 3 times during the trial. First time at baseline, second time 3 days after ECT session 8 (patients skip one ECT session day after 8 ECTs to minimise the confounding effects of acute side-effects of ECT due to anaesthesia etc.), and the third time at a 3 month follow-up after ECT completion. In addition, the neuronal substrates for potential effects of EPO on cognition are investigated with structural and functional MRI after 8 ECT sessions (after 3 weekly EPO or saline infusions). Block randomization and power calculations have been conducted by the independent Pharma Consulting Group AB (www.pharmaconsultinggroup.com). Treatment groups are stratified for age (>40 or <40) and gender. The difference in cognitive change between EPO and saline-treated groups from baseline to post-treatment in our previous trial was 0.5 SD. Based on these findings, the sample size of N=52 (n=26 per group) in the current trial will reach a >0.8 power to detect a clinically relevant difference in the primary outcome measure (the cognitive composite score) between the 2 groups at an alpha level of 5% (two-sided test). The study is also powered to investigate differences in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood-oxygen dependent level (BOLD) response in key neural networks based on previous fMRI studies from our group in which sample sizes of 30 age and gender matched participants (n=15 per group) had the power of >0.8 to show drug-related effects on task-related neural response at an alpha level of p<0.05. In the current trial, inclusion of 52 participants (n=26 per treatment group) therefore ensures sufficient statistical power to detect EPO-related effects on neural activity. Behavioural, mood, and biomarker data will be analysed using Mixed Models Design and Intention to Treat (ITT) approaches. Resting state and task-related fMRI data will be pre-processed and analyzed using FMRIB Expert Analysis Tool (FEAT) and the 'randomize' algorithm integrated in FSL, FMRIB Software Library (www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl). ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03339596
Study type Interventional
Source Mental Health Services in the Capital Region, Denmark
Contact
Status Completed
Phase Phase 2
Start date June 26, 2017
Completion date February 10, 2023

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT02122198 - Vascular Mechanisms for the Effects of Loss of Ovarian Hormone Function on Cognition in Women N/A
Recruiting NCT04356924 - Psychological Treatment to Support the Consequences of Cognitive Impairment N/A
Suspended NCT05542238 - The Effect of Acute Exercise on Cardiac Autonomic, Cerebrovascular, and Cognitive Function in Spinal Cord Injury N/A
Terminated NCT04493957 - Evaluation of an Educational Program in the Prevention of the Driving Risks in Patients With Neurocognitive Disorders : ACCOMPAGNE N/A
Recruiting NCT04792983 - Cognition and the Immunology of Postoperative Outcomes
Completed NCT06029920 - Influence of Overground Walking on Biomarkers, Cognitive Function, and Quality of Life in Elderly With Mild Cognitive Impairment N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05068323 - Impact of Interictal Epileptiform Activity on Some Cognitive Domains in Newly Diagnosed Epileptic Patients N/A
Completed NCT04426838 - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia for the Dementia Caregiving Dyad N/A
Completed NCT04713384 - Remote Bimanual Virtual Rehabilitation Post CVD N/A
Recruiting NCT06284213 - Biomarkers for Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Consortium
Recruiting NCT06053775 - Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation and Cognitive Training for Depressive Symptomatology Related to Breast Cancer (ONCODEP) N/A
Completed NCT03698695 - A Pharmacodynamics, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics Study of THN201 Versus Donepezil in Healthy Male Volunteers Phase 1
Not yet recruiting NCT05552729 - Effects of Different Doses of Vitamin D on Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Gastrointestinal Tumors Phase 1/Phase 2
Recruiting NCT03268109 - COGnitive ImpairmenT in Older HIV-infected Patients ≥ 65 Years Old
Completed NCT03187353 - IMProving Executive Function Study Phase 4
Completed NCT03301402 - Air Purifier to Improve Endothelial Function and Carotid Intima Thickness N/A
Completed NCT05395559 - Prevalence and Recognition of Cognitive Impairment in Hospitalized Patients: a Flash Mob Study
Recruiting NCT04897334 - Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Rehabilitation to Ameliorate Impairments in Neurocognition After Stroke N/A
Recruiting NCT04907565 - Impact of Obesity on Post-operative Cognitive Dysfunction: Role of Adipose Tissue
Recruiting NCT05030285 - Telehealth Psychotherapy for Anxiety in Persons With Cognitive Impairment N/A