Spontaneous Eye Blinking in Disorders of Consciousness

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorFondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus

About this trial

Differential diagnosis between Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) and Minimally Conscious State (MCS) is complicated due to severe cognitive and/or sensorimotor deficits in these patients. In this study the investigators aimed at exploring the diagnostic and prognostic validity of spontaneous eye blinking parameters (rate, amplitude, duration, variability) in a sample of patients with Disorders of Consciousness (DoC).

This is a multi-center prospective observational study conducted in patients with Severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI) and DoC admitted to 8 European participating centers, with clinical data collection not deviating from routine practice. The study is non-commercial and will have a maximum total duration of 24 months.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

clinical diagnosis of DoC (UWS, MCS minus, MCS plus) following repeated clinical evaluation (at least four CRS-R in a week)

age ≥ 18 years

time post-onset ≤6 months

Previous sABI of any etiology (traumatic, vascular, anoxic, mixed, etc.)

Disqualifiers

unstable clinical conditions (e.g. respiratory failure, fever, status epilepticus, etc.);

ophthalmic diseases, or clinically detected peripheral damage in eyelid motility (e.g. orbital fracture);

intake of sedative drugs in the preceding 24 hours;

additional brain event following admission (e.g., stroke).

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Not listed

Trial groups

70 Participants
are grouped into 1 trial group

Sponsors and collaborators

Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus

Lead sponsor

Therapiezentrum Burgau

Collaborator

University of Liege

Collaborator

University Hospital Munich

Collaborator

Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich

Collaborator

VITHAS Valencia (Spain)

Collaborator

Lavezzi Susanna, Local Health Unit, Ferrara (IT)

Collaborator