Interstitial CystitisNCT04540887
PEMF Therapy to Treat Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
A study testing Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy in people with Interstitial Cystitis and Chronic Interstitial Cystitis, run by Wake Forest University Health Sciences at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to gather information from the investigation of a non-pharmacological (non-drug) treatment known as low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Interstitial Cystitis, Chronic Interstitial Cystitis, Bladder Pain Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 10 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 24 Feb 2021to 30 Nov 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Female patients between 18 and 80 years old
- Participants must have already been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
- Subjects must have a bladder capacity greater than 400 cc
- Participants must have scored at least a 6 or higher on Numeric Rating Scale questionnaire
- Participants must not have any cognitive disabilities
- Participants must not have taken any narcotic medication for at least three months before being enrolled in this clinical trial
Who cannot join
- Participants must not have any history of bladder, uterine, ovarian, or vaginal cancer, urethral diverticulum, spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, radiation cystitis, cyclophosphamide treatment, or genital herpes
- Patients cannot have an implanted pace-maker or metal prosthesis
- Participants cannot have a urinary tract infection at the time of enrollment or be currently pregnant
- Patients must not have a body mass index greater than 40
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Wake Forest Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157
About this study
Official title: Investigation of Potential Therapeutic Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field for the Treatment of Symptoms Associated With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
The purpose of this study is to gather information from the investigation of a non-pharmacological (non-drug) treatment known as low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). The study team will be distributing the PEMF therapy to female subjects with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) to measure its ability to decrease pelvic pain. The results, from multiple questionnaires and voiding diaries, will be compared when participants are enrolled for treatment, at 4 weeks after using PEMF therapy, and 12 weeks post-enrollment.
Read the detailed description
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a clinical diagnosis based primarily on chronic symptoms of pain perceived by the patient to emanate from the bladder and/or pelvis associated with urinary urgency or frequency in the absence of another identified cause for the symptoms. Although it is not a life-threatening disease, the chronicity and severity of pain, along with urinary symptoms, causes great impairment in a patient's quality of life. IC/BPS poses as a significant clinical challenge for many reasons. For one, the pathophysiology described in the literature is incompletely determined and likely multi-factorial, including factors such as inflammation, neurovascular dysfunction, ion imbalance, and impaired urothelial cell integrity. Consequently, there are many options for IC/BPS therapy, many of which are driven primarily by patient-reported symptoms. In this regard, IC/BPS patients with moderate to severe pain typically require multi-modal therapy, often resulting in incomplete or no resolution of symptoms. Another clinical challenge is the heterogeneity of the symptoms. While pelvic pain is the distinguishing characteristic, patients with IC/BPS also routinely present with additional urological and non-urological medical symptoms and syndromes. This has led to the description of two specific sub-phenotypes in IC/BPS based on anesthetized bladder capacity (BC), in which patients with BC < 400 cc are more likely to experience severe pain, urgency and frequency (bladder centric sub-phenotype), and patients with BC > 400 cc (non-bladder centric sub-phenotype) have a higher prevalence of non-urological associated syndromes (NUAS) such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis and sicca syndrome.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy may present a promising alternative therapy for IC/BPS. PEMF is a safe, non-invasive, and effective therapy currently used for wound healing, bone-related diseases (osteoarthritis, RA), and chronic pain states (chronic lower back pain, fibromyalgia), the latter of which is frequently associated with IC/BPS as NUAS. Based on Faraday's law, electromagnetic interactions (e.g. PEMF) with biological processes and conditions (e.g. IC/BPS) will theoretically address many of the proposed pathophysiological causes of the condition. While the mechanism(s) of action are not fully understood, PEMF therapy has been shown in several studies (randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials) to decrease the output of pro-inflammatory proteins, improve oxygenation of blood and tissue, stabilize transmembrane action potential and ion channels, and stimulate tissue regeneration. Thus, PEMF may provide a safe, non-invasive therapeutic option that would be complementary to, or serve as an alternative for, the treatments that are currently being administered in IC/BPS for pain reduction. Of note, PEMF has demonstrated an excellent safety profile with no associated systemic risks reported to date. Additionally, the application of exogenous PEMF to stimulate the pelvic floor muscle has recently been introduced for treating urge and/or stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder. Furthermore, if patient safety and efficacy for pain reduction are demonstrated, these feasibility studies will provide the foundation for larger multi-site trials to determine additional parameters regarding the appropriate number of treatments as well as the duration of benefit (pain relief) following treatments.The purpose of this study will be to determine if PEMF therapy in patients with IC/BPS is an effective treatment in reducing pelvic pain.
- Being tested
- Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy
- Keywords
- Interstitial Cystitis, Bladder Pain Syndrome, Painful Bladder Syndrome, IC, BPS, Painful Bladder, Urinary urgency, Urinary frequency, Nocturia, Urinary incontinence
- Medical subject headings
- Cystitis, Interstitial, Nocturia, Urinary Incontinence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) TherapyDevice
Also called BEMER B. Body, BEMER B. Pad, BEMER Control Unit
PEMF therapy will be self-administered by all trial participants using the B. Body, B. Pad, and Control Unit. Participants will administer this therapy twice a day (morning and evening) for 8-minute sessions over a four week period.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | Treatment will be provided via self-administration of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy using the B. Body (whole body mat), B. Pad (targeted pelvic mat), and Control Unit. The participant will lay the B. Body mat on any flat surface (i.e. floor, bed, reclining chair, etc.) and lie down on the mat with the smaller B. Pad placed directly over their pelvic area. Then, the participant will turn the PEMF device on using the attached control unit, which has been pre-programmed to deliver the same level of energy every time. Participants will be instructed to administer this home treatment twice a day (morning and evening) for 8-minute sessions over a four-week period. As this is a single-group assignment, all participants will be given the PEMF device. Receives: Device: Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pelvic Pain, as Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
The NRS evaluates average pain intensity. It appears as a horizontal line with an eleven-point range. The NRS is labeled from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain ("worst pain imaginable").
Measured: Baseline before beginning treatment
Change From Baseline Pelvic Pain, as Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
The NRS evaluates average pain intensity. It appears as a horizontal line with an eleven-point range. The NRS is labeled from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain ("worst pain imaginable").
Measured: Week 4
Change From Baseline Pelvic Pain, as Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
The NRS evaluates average pain intensity. It appears as a horizontal line with an eleven-point range. The NRS is labeled from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain ("worst pain imaginable").
Measured: Week 12
Secondary outcomes (6)
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Measured by O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI)
The ICPI (score range: 0-16 points) contain four questions related to urinary and pain symptoms. For the problem index, all four questions utilize a range of 0-4 with 0 indicating it is no problem and 4 indicating it is a big problem. Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms and greater disease progression, while lower scores indicate less severe symptoms and less disease progression.
Measured: Baseline before beginning treatment, Week 4, and Week 12
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Measured by Wake Forest Baptist Health IC/BPS Global Response Assessment (GRA)
The GRA asks participants to list any in-office treatments, home treatments, medications, or procedures they have had in the past year for IC/BPS. Then, they are asked to score those treatments based on a seven point scale (-3 to +3) with -3 indicating their symptoms became markedly worse and +3 indicating their symptoms were markedly improved after treatment.
Measured: Baseline, 4-weeks post-treatment, and 8-weeks post-treatment
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Measured by O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI)
The ICSI (score range: 0-19 points) contains four questions related to urinary and pain symptoms. For the symptoms index, 3 of the 4 questions utilize a range of 0-5 with 0 indicated the symptom is never experienced and 5 indicating the symptom is almost always experienced. The fourth question utilizes a range of 0-4 with 0 indicating the symptom is never experienced and 4 indicating the symptom is almost always experienced. Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms and greater acuity of disease progression, while lower scores indicate less severe symptoms and lower acuity of disease progression.
Measured: Baseline before beginning treatment, Week 4, and Week 12
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Recorded in Patient Voiding Diary - Void and Intake Measurements
Participants will be instructed on how to complete 3-day voiding diary prior to initial office visit and following assessments. The participant will use a new diary sheet for every 24-hour period. Data analysis will be measured based on urgency score, total urine volume (TUV) (mL), maximum voided volume (MVV) (mL), mean voided volume (mL), and fluid intake (mL).
For TUV, MVV, and mean voided volume, higher voided volume (in mL) indicates more efficient bladder-emptying and less severe symptoms, while a lower voided volume (in mL) indicates less efficient bladder-emptying and more severe symptoms.
Measured: Baseline before beginning treatment and Week 4
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Recorded in Patient Voiding Diary - Number of Voids
Participants will be instructed on how to complete 3-day voiding diary prior to initial office visit and following assessments. The participant will use a new diary sheet for every 24-hour period with sections identifying time of day (with wake time and bed time indicated by participant), fluid intake (type of fluid ingested and amount in oz), urination (amount in oz voided into urinary hat or urinal), amount of urine drained via catheter if applicable, leaks (any time participant experienced involuntary urine loss indicated by a check mark in the corresponding time column) if applicable, and pad changes if applicable. Data analysis will be measured based on daily number of voids (voids).
For number of voids specifically, a greater number of voids in a 24-hour period indicates increased urinary frequency and more severe symptoms, while a fewer number of voids in a 24-hour period indicates decreased urinary frequency and less severe symptoms.
Measured: Baseline before beginning treatment and Week 4
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Recorded in Patient Voiding Diary - Urgency Score
Participants will be instructed on how to complete 3-day voiding diary prior to initial office visit and following assessments. The participant will use a new diary sheet for every 24-hour period with sections identifying time of day (with wake time and bed time indicated by participant), fluid intake (type of fluid ingested and amount in oz), urination (amount in oz voided into urinary hat or urinal), amount of urine drained via catheter if applicable, leaks (any time participant experienced involuntary urine loss indicated by a check mark in the corresponding time column) if applicable, and pad changes if applicable. Data analysis will be measured based on urgency score (scale: 0-3, with 0 indicating no urgency and 3 indicating maximum urgency).
For the urgency score specifically, lower scores indicate less severe urinary symptoms/urgency while higher scores indicate more severe urinary symptoms/urgency.
Measured: Baseline before beginning treatment and Week 4
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Sep 2020
- Study start24 Feb 2021
- Primary completion30 Nov 2021
- Study completion30 Nov 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Interstitial CystitisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- This is a single center clinical series evaluating symptom relief following a 4-week trial of PEMF therapy. From our registry of IC/BPS patients at Wake Forest Baptist Health Urology we will recruit women, ages 18-80, who have met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Upon enrollment, each participant will be taught how to administer home treatment with the Bio Electro Magnetic Energy Regulation (BEMER) PEMF devices which consist of a total body mat (B.Body) plus a targeted pelvic mat (B.Pad) and control unit. Following the brief in-clinic training, participants will be sent home with the PEMF devices (preset to deliver the same level of energy every time) and self-administer therapy sessions, twice daily (once in the morning, once in the evening) for 8 minutes at a time. Participants will complete questionnaires as well as keep a 3-day voiding diary to record any changes in IC/BPS symptoms/pain at enrollment, 4 weeks after using PEMF therapy, and 12 weeks post-enrollment.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Stephen Walker, PhD, Principal investigator, Wake Forest Health Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04540887
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB00068066
- Status last verified
- Jul 2021
- First submitted
- 31 Aug 2020
- Last updated
- 5 Dec 2022
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
van de Merwe JP, Nordling J, Bouchelouche P, Bouchelouche K, Cervigni M, Daha LK, Elneil S, Fall M, Hohlbrugger G, Irwin P, Mortensen S, van Ophoven A, Osborne JL, Peeker R, Richter B, Riedl C, Sairanen J, Tinzl M, Wyndaele JJ. Diagnostic criteria, classification, and nomenclature for painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis: an ESSIC proposal. Eur Urol. 2008 Jan;53(1):60-7. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2007.09.019. Epub 2007 Sep 20.
PubMed 17900797Vasudevan V, Moldwin R. Addressing quality of life in the patient with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Asian J Urol. 2017 Jan;4(1):50-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ajur.2016.08.014. Epub 2016 Dec 2.
PubMed 29264207Keay SK, Birder LA, Chai TC. Evidence for bladder urothelial pathophysiology in functional bladder disorders. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:865463. doi: 10.1155/2014/865463. Epub 2014 May 8.
PubMed 24900993Parsons CL. The role of a leaky epithelium and potassium in the generation of bladder symptoms in interstitial cystitis/overactive bladder, urethral syndrome, prostatitis and gynaecological chronic pelvic pain. BJU Int. 2011 Feb;107(3):370-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2010.09843.x. Epub 2010 Dec 22.
PubMed 21176078Christmas TJ, Rode J, Chapple CR, Milroy EJ, Turner-Warwick RT. Nerve fibre proliferation in interstitial cystitis. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol. 1990;416(5):447-51. doi: 10.1007/BF01605152.
PubMed 2107633
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Dec 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigation of Potential Therapeutic Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field for the Treatment of Symptoms Associated With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04540887
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB00068066
- Keywords
- Interstitial Cystitis, Bladder Pain Syndrome, Painful Bladder Syndrome, IC, BPS, Painful Bladder, Urinary urgency, Urinary frequency
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Wake Forest University Health SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 24 Feb 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 20 Jul 2022
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to gather information from the investigation of a non-pharmacological (non-drug) treatment known as low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). The study team will be distributing the PEMF therapy to female subjects with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) to measure its ability to decrease pelvic pain. The results, from multiple questionnaires and voiding diaries, will be compared when participants are enrolled for treatment, at 4 weeks after using PEMF therapy, and 12 weeks post-enrollment.
Detailed description
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a clinical diagnosis based primarily on chronic symptoms of pain perceived by the patient to emanate from the bladder and/or pelvis associated with urinary urgency or frequency in the absence of another identified cause for the symptoms. Although it is not a life-threatening disease, the chronicity and severity of pain, along with urinary symptoms, causes great impairment in a patient's quality of life. IC/BPS poses as a significant clinical challenge for many reasons. For one, the pathophysiology described in the literature is incompletely determined and likely multi-factorial, including factors such as inflammation, neurovascular dysfunction, ion imbalance, and impaired urothelial cell integrity. Consequently, there are many options for IC/BPS therapy, many of which are driven primarily by patient-reported symptoms. In this regard, IC/BPS patients with moderate to severe pain typically require multi-modal therapy, often resulting in incomplete or no resolution of symptoms. Another clinical challenge is the heterogeneity of the symptoms. While pelvic pain is the distinguishing characteristic, patients with IC/BPS also routinely present with additional urological and non-urological medical symptoms and syndromes. This has led to the description of two specific sub-phenotypes in IC/BPS based on anesthetized bladder capacity (BC), in which patients with BC < 400 cc are more likely to experience severe pain, urgency and frequency (bladder centric sub-phenotype), and patients with BC > 400 cc (non-bladder centric sub-phenotype) have a higher prevalence of non-urological associated syndromes (NUAS) such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis and sicca syndrome.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy may present a promising alternative therapy for IC/BPS. PEMF is a safe, non-invasive, and effective therapy currently used for wound healing, bone-related diseases (osteoarthritis, RA), and chronic pain states (chronic lower back pain, fibromyalgia), the latter of which is frequently associated with IC/BPS as NUAS. Based on Faraday's law, electromagnetic interactions (e.g. PEMF) with biological processes and conditions (e.g. IC/BPS) will theoretically address many of the proposed pathophysiological causes of the condition. While the mechanism(s) of action are not fully understood, PEMF therapy has been shown in several studies (randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials) to decrease the output of pro-inflammatory proteins, improve oxygenation of blood and tissue, stabilize transmembrane action potential and ion channels, and stimulate tissue regeneration. Thus, PEMF may provide a safe, non-invasive therapeutic option that would be complementary to, or serve as an alternative for, the treatments that are currently being administered in IC/BPS for pain reduction. Of note, PEMF has demonstrated an excellent safety profile with no associated systemic risks reported to date. Additionally, the application of exogenous PEMF to stimulate the pelvic floor muscle has recently been introduced for treating urge and/or stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder. Furthermore, if patient safety and efficacy for pain reduction are demonstrated, these feasibility studies will provide the foundation for larger multi-site trials to determine additional parameters regarding the appropriate number of treatments as well as the duration of benefit (pain relief) following treatments.The purpose of this study will be to determine if PEMF therapy in patients with IC/BPS is an effective treatment in reducing pelvic pain.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- This is a single center clinical series evaluating symptom relief following a 4-week trial of PEMF therapy. From our registry of IC/BPS patients at Wake Forest Baptist Health Urology we will recruit women, ages 18-80, who have met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Upon enrollment, each participant will be taught how to administer home treatment with the Bio Electro Magnetic Energy Regulation (BEMER) PEMF devices which consist of a total body mat (B.Body) plus a targeted pelvic mat (B.Pad) and control unit. Following the brief in-clinic training, participants will be sent home with the PEMF devices (preset to deliver the same level of energy every time) and self-administer therapy sessions, twice daily (once in the morning, once in the evening) for 8 minutes at a time. Participants will complete questionnaires as well as keep a 3-day voiding diary to record any changes in IC/BPS symptoms/pain at enrollment, 4 weeks after using PEMF therapy, and 12 weeks post-enrollment.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | Device: Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) TherapyTreatment will be provided via self-administration of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy using the B. Body (whole body mat), B. Pad (targeted pelvic mat), and Control Unit. The participant will lay the B. Body mat on any flat surface (i.e. floor, bed, reclining chair, etc.) and lie down on the mat with the smaller B. Pad placed directly over their pelvic area. Then, the participant will turn the PEMF device on using the attached control unit, which has been pre-programmed to deliver the same level of energy every time. Participants will be instructed to administer this home treatment twice a day (morning and evening) for 8-minute sessions over a four-week period. As this is a single-group assignment, all participants will be given the PEMF device. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Female patients between 18 and 80 years old
- Participants must have already been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
- Subjects must have a bladder capacity greater than 400 cc
- Participants must have scored at least a 6 or higher on Numeric Rating Scale questionnaire
- Participants must not have any cognitive disabilities
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Participants must not have any history of bladder, uterine, ovarian, or vaginal cancer, urethral diverticulum, spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, radiation cystitis, cyclophosphamide treatment, or genital herpes
- Patients cannot have an implanted pace-maker or metal prosthesis
- Participants cannot have a urinary tract infection at the time of enrollment or be currently pregnant
- Patients must not have a body mass index greater than 40
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) TherapyAlso: BEMER B. Body, BEMER B. Pad, BEMER Control UnitPEMF therapy will be self-administered by all trial participants using the B. Body, B. Pad, and Control Unit. Participants will administer this therapy twice a day (morning and evening) for 8-minute sessions over a four week period. | Device | Treatment |
Primary outcome
Pelvic Pain, as Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Time frame: Baseline before beginning treatment
The NRS evaluates average pain intensity. It appears as a horizontal line with an eleven-point range. The NRS is labeled from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain ("worst pain imaginable").
Change From Baseline Pelvic Pain, as Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Time frame: Week 4
The NRS evaluates average pain intensity. It appears as a horizontal line with an eleven-point range. The NRS is labeled from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain ("worst pain imaginable").
Change From Baseline Pelvic Pain, as Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Time frame: Week 12
The NRS evaluates average pain intensity. It appears as a horizontal line with an eleven-point range. The NRS is labeled from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain ("worst pain imaginable").
6 secondary outcomes
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Measured by O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI)
Time frame: Baseline before beginning treatment, Week 4, and Week 12
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Measured by Wake Forest Baptist Health IC/BPS Global Response Assessment (GRA)
Time frame: Baseline, 4-weeks post-treatment, and 8-weeks post-treatment
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Measured by O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI)
Time frame: Baseline before beginning treatment, Week 4, and Week 12
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Recorded in Patient Voiding Diary - Void and Intake Measurements
Time frame: Baseline before beginning treatment and Week 4
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Recorded in Patient Voiding Diary - Number of Voids
Time frame: Baseline before beginning treatment and Week 4
Change in IC/BPS Symptoms, as Recorded in Patient Voiding Diary - Urgency Score
Time frame: Baseline before beginning treatment and Week 4
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Dec 2022.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 17900797van de Merwe JP, Nordling J, Bouchelouche P, Bouchelouche K, Cervigni M, Daha LK, Elneil S, Fall M, Hohlbrugger G, Irwin P, Mortensen S, van Ophoven A, Osborne JL, Peeker R, Richter B, Riedl C, Sairanen J, Tinzl M, Wyndaele JJ. Diagnostic criteria, classification, and nomenclature for painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis: an ESSIC proposal. Eur Urol. 2008 Jan;53(1):60-7. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2007.09.019. Epub 2007 Sep 20.
- Background: PubMed 29264207Vasudevan V, Moldwin R. Addressing quality of life in the patient with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Asian J Urol. 2017 Jan;4(1):50-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ajur.2016.08.014. Epub 2016 Dec 2.
- Background: PubMed 24900993Keay SK, Birder LA, Chai TC. Evidence for bladder urothelial pathophysiology in functional bladder disorders. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:865463. doi: 10.1155/2014/865463. Epub 2014 May 8.
- Background: PubMed 21176078Parsons CL. The role of a leaky epithelium and potassium in the generation of bladder symptoms in interstitial cystitis/overactive bladder, urethral syndrome, prostatitis and gynaecological chronic pelvic pain. BJU Int. 2011 Feb;107(3):370-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2010.09843.x. Epub 2010 Dec 22.
- Background: PubMed 2107633Christmas TJ, Rode J, Chapple CR, Milroy EJ, Turner-Warwick RT. Nerve fibre proliferation in interstitial cystitis. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol. 1990;416(5):447-51. doi: 10.1007/BF01605152.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Stephen Walker, PhD principal investigator
Wake Forest Health Sciences
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy in people with Interstitial Cystitis and Chronic Interstitial Cystitis, run by Wake Forest University Health Sciences at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Dec 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 20 Jul 2022). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pelvic Pain, as Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (time frame: Baseline before beginning treatment). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04540887, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Dec 2022.