Trial Outcomes & Findings for TENS in Scleroderma (NCT NCT06646913)

NCT ID: NCT06646913

Last Updated: 2026-08-13

Results Overview

Acceptability of the TENS device as demonstrated by: 1. Subjects who are able to complete the trial by reaching the end of the testing period with the device 2. Subjects who utilize the device for at least 80% of the proposed applications.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

11 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

4 weeks

Results posted on

2026-08-13

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Patients utilize the TENS device for 45 minutes, two times per day for the 4 week treatment period.
Overall Study
STARTED
11
Overall Study
COMPLETED
9
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
2

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Patients utilize the TENS device for 45 minutes, two times per day for the 4 week treatment period.
Overall Study
Failure of the device
1
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
1

Baseline Characteristics

Although 11 participants started the study, only 10 completed the baseline UCLA GIT 2.0 questionnaire and were included in this baseline analysis.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms
n=11 Participants
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: Patients will utilize the TENS device for 45 minutes, two times per day for the 4 week treatment period.
Age, Continuous
50.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.6 • n=11 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
11 Participants
n=11 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants
n=11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
n=11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
8 Participants
n=11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
n=11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants
n=11 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=11 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
11 Participants
n=11 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=11 Participants
Marital Status
Single
4 Participants
n=11 Participants
Marital Status
Married
5 Participants
n=11 Participants
Marital Status
Unknown
2 Participants
n=11 Participants
Height (cm)
163.3 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.3 • n=11 Participants
Weight (kg)
74.8 kg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.3 • n=11 Participants
Body Mass Index (BMI)
28.1 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.1 • n=11 Participants
UCLA-Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) 2.0 Scores
ULCA GIT Total Score
0.8 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.4 • n=10 Participants • Although 11 participants started the study, only 10 completed the baseline UCLA GIT 2.0 questionnaire and were included in this baseline analysis.
UCLA-Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) 2.0 Scores
Distension Score
1.5 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.6 • n=10 Participants • Although 11 participants started the study, only 10 completed the baseline UCLA GIT 2.0 questionnaire and were included in this baseline analysis.
Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index-Daily Diary (GCSI-DD) Scores
GCSI-DD Total
1.1 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.7 • n=10 Participants • Although 11 participants started the study, only 10 completed the baseline Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index-Daily Diary (GCSI-DD) questionnaire and were included in this baseline analysis.
Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index-Daily Diary (GCSI-DD) Scores
GCSI-DD Bloating
1.4 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.7 • n=10 Participants • Although 11 participants started the study, only 10 completed the baseline Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index-Daily Diary (GCSI-DD) questionnaire and were included in this baseline analysis.
Baseline Gastric Motility Status
Delayed liquid and solid phases
3 Participants
n=11 Participants
Baseline Gastric Motility Status
Delayed liquid phase only
2 Participants
n=11 Participants
Baseline Gastric Motility Status
Delayed solid phase only
3 Participants
n=11 Participants
Baseline Gastric Motility Status
Normal
3 Participants
n=11 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Acceptability of the TENS device as demonstrated by: 1. Subjects who are able to complete the trial by reaching the end of the testing period with the device 2. Subjects who utilize the device for at least 80% of the proposed applications.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms
n=11 Participants
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Patients utilize the TENS device for 45 minutes, two times per day for the 4 week treatment period.
Acceptability of the TENS Device
Subjects who are able to complete the trial
9 Participants
Acceptability of the TENS Device
Subjects who utilize the device for at least 80% of the proposed applications.
9 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Nine participants were included in this analysis because calculation of change from baseline required both baseline and post-baseline assessments. Two participants had baseline data but did not complete the 4-week treatment and follow-up assessments and were therefore not evaluable for this outcome.

Mean change in the GCSI Total score (0-4 where higher score reflects greater severity)from baseline to after the TENS intervention.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms
n=9 Participants
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Patients utilize the TENS device for 45 minutes, two times per day for the 4 week treatment period.
Efficacy of TENS in Treating Scleroderma-related Gastroparesis
-0.25 units on a scale
Interval -0.65 to 0.15

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Nine participants were included in this analysis because calculation of change from baseline required both baseline and post-baseline assessments. Two participants had baseline data but did not complete the 4-week treatment and follow-up assessments and were therefore not evaluable for this outcome.

Mean change in the ULCA-GIT 2.0 Distention/Bloating scale (0-3.0 where 0 is lowest severity and 3.0 is greatest severity) from baseline to after the TENS intervention.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms
n=9 Participants
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Patients utilize the TENS device for 45 minutes, two times per day for the 4 week treatment period.
Assessment of the Effect of TENS of Gastroparesis Symptoms
-0.17 units on a scale
Interval -0.68 to 0.35

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 8 weeks

Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v5.0. The CTCAE v5.0 is a standardize tool to grade adverse events on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is "mild" grade 2 is "moderate", 3 is "severe", 4 is "life threatening", and 5 is "death". Outcome is shown as number of participants who experienced an adverse event in each possible grade.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms
n=11 Participants
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Patients utilize the TENS device for 45 minutes, two times per day for the 4 week treatment period.
Assessment of the Safety of TENS in Treating Scleroderma-related Gastroparesis
Grade 1
0 Participants
Assessment of the Safety of TENS in Treating Scleroderma-related Gastroparesis
Grade 2
0 Participants
Assessment of the Safety of TENS in Treating Scleroderma-related Gastroparesis
Grade 3
0 Participants
Assessment of the Safety of TENS in Treating Scleroderma-related Gastroparesis
Grade 4
0 Participants
Assessment of the Safety of TENS in Treating Scleroderma-related Gastroparesis
Grade 5
0 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks

Population: Of the 11 participants with baseline gastric motility data, 8 had abnormal (delayed) gastric motility and were eligible for repeat assessment at Week 4. Two of these eight participants did not complete the Week 4 assessment; therefore, six participants were included in this analysis.

Participants were categorized as having "normal" or "abnormal" gastric motility at baseline. Those who were categorized as "abnormal" at baseline repeated the test at 4 weeks, after the intervention. Those who were classified as "normal" did not repeat the test.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms
n=6 Participants
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Patients utilize the TENS device for 45 minutes, two times per day for the 4 week treatment period.
Gastric Motility in Participants
Delayed solids only at baseline to normal at Week 4
2 Participants
Gastric Motility in Participants
Delayed liquids & solids at baseline to delayed solids only at Week 4
2 Participants
Gastric Motility in Participants
Delayed liquids & solids at baseline to delayed liquids & solids at Week 4
1 Participants
Gastric Motility in Participants
Delayed liquid only at baseline to delayed liquids & solids at Week 4
1 Participants

Adverse Events

Scleroderma Patients With Gastroparesis Symptoms

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Rosemary Gedert

University of Michigan

Phone: 734-764-6466

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place