Effects of Caffeine and Intermittent Hypoxia on Leg Function in Human Spinal Cord Injury

Summary

Accumulating evidence suggests that repeatedly breathing low oxygen levels for brief periods (termed intermittent hypoxia) is a safe and effective treatment strategy to promote meaningful functional recovery in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). The goal of the study is to understand how caffeine may augment the effects of intermittent hypoxia on motor function and spinal plasticity (ability of the nervous system to strengthen neural pathways based on new experiences) following SCI.

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Injuries

Interventions

DRUG

Caffeine

Subjects will ingest capsules containing caffeine (up to 6mg/kg). Experiments will begin 30min after consumption to approximately coincide with peak plasma concentrations.Throughout the 30min wait time and experimentation, blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored.

OTHER

AIH

Participants will breathe intermittent low oxygen via air generators. The generators will fill reservoir bags attached to a non-rebreathing face mask. Oxygen concentration will be continuously monitored to ensure delivery of FIO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen) = 0.10±0.02 (hypoxia). Throughout experimentation, blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored.

OTHER

Placebo

This is a placebo counterpart to the caffeine drug. Subjects will ingest capsules containing dextrose. Experiments will begin 30min after consumption to mimic the caffeine drug protocol. Throughout experimentation, blood oxygenation, blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored.

OTHER

SHAM

This is a placebo counterpart to breathing intermittent low oxygen. Participants will breathe intermittent room air via air generators. The generators will fill reservoir bags attached to a non-rebreathing face mask. Oxygen concentration will be continuously monitored to ensure delivery of FIO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen) = 0.21±0.02 (normoxia). Throughout experimentation, blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  collaborator NIH

• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Randy D Trumbower, PT, PhD · Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-01-01

Primary Completion

2021-03-19

Completion

2022-02-19

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations