Clinical Trial: Botox Injection in Treatment of Cluster Headache

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Endoscopic Block of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion With Botulinum Toxin in Intractable Cluster Headache - Safety Issues

Brief Summary:

Cluster headache is an intense and powerful, one-sided headache accompanied by involuntary symptoms such as red eye, droopy eyelids, flow of tears, small pupils and one-sided facial sweating. The headache is believed to be the most intense of all headaches and among many is totally disabling and of great personal and social consequences. For a small group of patients with episodic and most chronic form, drug therapy has little effect. For them, surgery can be a solution.

Neuroradiology has found evidence of a possible original activation of cluster headache from the portion of the brain called hypothalamus. Furthermore, an activation of the parasympathetic nervous system through the sphenopalatine ganglion, which may also explain some of the one-sided involuntary symptoms, is suspected in cluster headache. Injection of Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) inhibits secretion of synaptic acetylcholine resulting in nerve signals being blocked. The duration of such a blockade is believed to be 3-9 months.

The purpose of the present study is to develop and evaluate a new surgical procedure with injection of BTA for blocking of the sphenopalatine ganglion. The goal is to relieve the symptoms of refractory cluster headache with a minimal invasive procedure.

The main objective of the project is to determine the safety of BTA injection in the area of the sphenopalatine ganglion of refractory cluster headache and detect the adverse events. Secondary objectives are to identify the changes of headache attacks by the method used.


Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Current Primary Outcome: Safety aspects / Number of adverse events and number of participants with adverse events as a measure of safety [ Time Frame: For the follow-up period of 6 months ]

Number of adverse events and number of participants with adverse events after BTA injection in the area of the sphenopalatine ganglion and severity of adverse events. Registration of any adverse events categorized by probable relationship to drug, the surgical procedure or anesthesia. Data obtained from the headache diaries as well as open questions during consultations.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Cluster headache attack frequency [ Time Frame: Average number of attacks of baseline compared to average of week 3 and 4 after injection ]
  • Hours with cluster headache [ Time Frame: Average of baseline compared to average of week 3 and 4 after injection ]
  • Days with cluster headache [ Time Frame: Average of baseline compared to average of week 3 and 4 after injection ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Dates:
Date Received: November 21, 2013
Date Started: October 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: March 16, 2017
Last Verified: March 2017