NCT07162311Enrolling by invitation
Effect of Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Pain in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis With Low Inflammatory Activity
Effect of Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Pain in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis With Low Inflammatory Activity: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 9 Sept 2025 · Not updated for over 12 months - ask the site whether it is still open
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly complex inflammatory autoimmune disease. Several drugs have been developed in recent decades to target the immune components of inflammation. However, even with effective anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapies for controlling RA, many patients still report significant levels of chronic pain due to CNS neuroplasticity, perpetuating physical disability, psychosocial problems, decreased work activity, and poor quality of life. In addition, chronic pain can lead to increased public spending due to the need for more medical visits, ineffective drug treatments, and financial disability benefits. Transcranial stimulation (a noninvasive neural stimulation technique with minimal adverse effects and easy home use) has been a promising adjunct tool in the treatment of chronic pain and psychological disorders in diseases that affect the central nervous system in the long term. Thus, exploring transcranial direct current stimulation in RA patients with low levels of inflammation could impact on improving pain, functionality, psychological aspects and overall quality of life, as well as reducing healthcare costs for society.
- Status (registry)
- Enrolling by invitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 34 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 7 Apr 2025
- Start date
- 1 Jan 2024
- Primary completion date
- 22 Dec 2028
- Lead sponsor
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
- Diseases
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- NCT number
- NCT07162311
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 34
- From 1 Jan 2024 to the primary completion date, 22 Dec 2028
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- History of brain surgery, traumatic brain injury, stroke, previous intracranial metal implantation, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
- Previous history of autoimmune diseases other than RA.
- Previous history of neoplasia.
- Use of illicit drugs within the past 6 months.
Other illness
- History of neurological diseases.
- History of any other uncompensated clinical disease.
Who the study is looking for
- Participants aged 18-70 with RA.
- Participants with generalized pain ≥ 40 mm on the VAS-Pain scale, lasting over 3 months, and not of mechanical or inflammatory origin, as assessed by a certified rheumatologist.
- Evidence of low inflammatory markers, including with C-reactive protein (CRP) \<10 mg/dL and sedimentation rate (ESR) \<20 mm/h, and stable treatment for PsA for at least 6 months prior to study enrollment.
Age in the registry: 18 years to 70 years · Sex: Female · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Porto Alegre | Brazil | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.