Brown Adipose Tissue Activation by Spinal Cord Stimulation

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Pain, Back; Type 2 Diabetes; Obesity, Morbid

Treatments: Device: Research electrode

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04326192

STUDY00020197

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of this study is to investigate and utilize spinal cord stimulation (SCS) as an effective approach to eliciting weight loss and potentially alleviating Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), as evidenced by increasing metabolism of adipose tissue.

Full description

This research study aims to investigate possible activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) metabolism by upper thoracic spinal cord stimulation (SCS). We believe that our multidisciplinary research team presents a unique opportunity to test whether SCS can activate BAT metabolism, as tested during a routine screening procedure for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for pain control. Our marker for BAT activation is 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) - positron emission tomography (PET), which has previously been used to gauge cold-evoked BAT activation, and other studies of BAT in humans. We believe this proof-of-concept study could pave the way for a new therapeutic modality for the treatment of morbid obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Enrollment: 10 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age: 21-70 years
2. Persistent neuropathic leg and back pain
3. Subjects who are already planning to undergo SCS for pain
4. Subjects who have not received a prior SCS trial for pain
5. Subjects with a BMI of 25-45, using formula; weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703

Exclusion criteria

1. Not considering SCS for pain
2. Forensic patient
3. Taking beta blockers
4. Weight change > 5% within last 3 months
5. Habitual tobacco use
6. Habitual excessive alcohol use
7. Pregnancy
8. Decisionally impaired adults
9. Children
10. Neonates
11. Subjects with a BMI of <25 or >45

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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10 participants in 1 patient group

All subjects

Experimental group

Description:

All subjects will have two PET/CT scans on days 3 and 5 after SCS electrode implantation: (1) Baseline and (2) SCS-activated. Other than SCS activation, both studies will be conducted under identical conditions. For the first scan, subjects will be randomly assigned to either a baseline (no SCS during PET/CT) or with SCS during PET/CT prior to the day of their first scan. The second scan will complete the sequence with either a baseline or SCS-activated scan, as randomized.

Treatment:

Device: Research electrode