Official Title

Intracranial Pressure in Experimental Models of Headache
  • Phase

    N/A
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Study Participants

    23
The purpose of this study is to determine whether increased pressure in the head is elevated in people who suffer from High Altitude Headache. We hypothesise that head pressure will be elevated in people with High Altitude Headache.
High Altitude Headache is the primary symptom of Acute Mountain Sickness. However, at present the reason why some individuals suffer from High Altitude Headache and others do not remains unknown. It is widely believed that elevated pressure within the brain leads to stretching of pain sensitive fibres and thus headache. However, evidence of raised intracranial pressure during High Altitude Headache is currently unavailable. Therefore, this study aims to examine a proxy measure of intracranial pressure (Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter) in persons visiting High Altitude, half of whom have been given the drug acetazolamide that is known to reduce headache symptoms.
Study Started
Jul 31
2011
Primary Completion
Aug 31
2011
Study Completion
Aug 31
2011
Results Posted
Dec 26
2011
Estimate
Last Update
Feb 07
2012
Estimate

Drug Acetazolamide

During a forty eight hour hypoxic exposure (3777m), subjects will be given either acetazolamide or placebo at hours fifteen, twenty and thirty two.

  • Other names: Diamox

Drug Lactose monohydrate

During a forty eight hour hypoxic exposure (3777m), subjects will be given either acetazolamide or placebo at hours fifteen, twenty and thirty two.

Acetazolamide Experimental

Arm 1: ACETAZOLAMIDE (250mg) will be given to subjects at fifteen, twenty and thirty two hours post hypoxic exposure (3777m).

Placebo Placebo Comparator

Placebo (LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE) will be given to subjects at fifteen, twenty and thirty two hours post hypoxic exposure (3777m).

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Member of the Italian High Altitude Research Expeditions

Exclusion Criteria:

Are under the age of 18years;
sulfonamide allergy
Liver or kidney disfunction
Have any other uncontrolled medical condition
Or are unable to give consent.

Summary

Acetazolamide

Placebo

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term

Change in Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter by Ultrasonography

Baseline is defined as the average of the 3 hour and 12 hour normoxia measurement. 24 hours is defined at the 24 hour hypoxia measurement. Optic nerve sheath diameter obtained by ultrasonography of the eye. Increased optic nerve sheath diameter suggests greater intra cranial pressure.

Acetazolamide

0.02
mm (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.06

Placebo

0.02
mm (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.06

Change in High Altitude Headache by Visual Analogue Scale

Baseline is defined as the average of the 3 hour and 12 hour normoxia measurement. 24 hours is defined at the 24 hour hypoxia measurement. Outcome measured using visual analogue scale, where 0 mm is no headache and 100 mm is maximum headache.

Acetazolamide

6.4
mm (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 10.5

Placebo

7.2
mm (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 10.5

Change in Blood Oxygen Saturation

Baseline is defined as the average of the 3 hour and 12 hour normoxia measurement. 24 hours is defined at the 24 hour hypoxia measurement.

Acetazolamide

10.8
% oxygen saturation (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 4.3

Placebo

11.1
% oxygen saturation (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 4.3

Change in Fluid Balance

Baseline is defined as the average of the 3 hour and 12 hour normoxia measurement. 24 hours is defined at the 24 hour hypoxia measurement. Urine output was recorded by 24 hour urine collection and fluid intake by 24 hour food diaries. Fluid balance was calculated as: (urine output (L) / fluid intake (L) ) * 100.

Acetazolamide

342.0
% of fluid intake (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 109

Placebo

147.0
% of fluid intake (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 85

Change in Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter

Baseline is defined as the average of the 3 hour 12 hour normoxia measurements. 3 hours is defined at the 3 hour hypoxia measurement.

Acetazolamide

Placebo

-0.01
mm (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.06

Change in Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter

Baseline is defined as the average of the 3 hour 12 hour normoxia measurements. 12 hours is defined at the 12 hour hypoxia measurement.

Acetazolamide

0.01
mm (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.04

Placebo

0.01
mm (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.04

Change in Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter

Baseline is defined as the average of the 3 hour and 12 hour normoxia measurements. 36 hours is defined at the 36 hour hypoxia measurement.

Acetazolamide

0.01
mm (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.04

Placebo

Total

23
Participants

Age Continuous

21
years (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 3

Age, Categorical

Region of Enrollment

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

Acetazolamide

Placebo