TREAT-VT Study 1.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Transcutaneous Electrical Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Suppression of Ventricular Arrhythmias
IRAS ID
341655
Contact name
Pushpsen Joshi
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106 2024 11 84, UCL Data Protection Registration- Health Research
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Ventricular arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms that arise from the bottom chambers of the heart. They can cause debilitating symptoms when they occur intermittently (these are called premature ventricular ectopics or PVCs) and can be life-threatening when they occur continuously (called ventricular tachycardia or VT). These are the most common causes of sudden cardiac death, especially in patients with pre-existing heart disease.
They can be a result of overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system, and in extreme circumstances, surgery to cut the nerve may be needed. A novel approach to target this nervous system using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) machine has successfully treated arrhythmias that come from the top chambers of the heart (atrial fibrillation). An ear clip is applied for an hour per day connected to a device (smaller than a phone) that emits inaudible electrical vibrations. This is called Low-Level Tragus Stimulation (LLTS). Because it has been used for epilepsy for decades, we have evidence of a very high safety profile and tolerability.
We plan to enrol 72 patients, 34 with many PVCs and 38 with VT, and randomise them to either first receive LLTS or first receive sham treatment (this will appear the same to the patient and researchers but without any meaningful vibrations being emitted in the sham group). Each patient will then swap over to the other treatment. We will compare whether the LLTS reduces the amount of ventricular arrhythmias during compared to the amount during the sham treatment period. We will use Holter monitors to measure the amount of PVCs after each period in the PVC group. VT patients have an implantable defibrillator that continuously monitors for VT episodes in this group. We will only enrol adults who can give informed consent, and study participation will not interfere with a patient's clinical treatment.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0333
Date of REC Opinion
16 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion