Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review
Short-term transcutaneous non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation may reduce disease activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis : results of a pilot study. / Drewes, A. M.; Brock, C.; Rasmussen, S. E. et al.
I: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, Bind 50, Nr. 1, 01.2021, s. 20-27.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Short-term transcutaneous non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation may reduce disease activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis
T2 - results of a pilot study
AU - Drewes, A. M.
AU - Brock, C.
AU - Rasmussen, S. E.
AU - Møller, H. J.
AU - Brock, B.
AU - Deleuran, B. W.
AU - Farmer, A. D.
AU - Pfeiffer-Jensen, M.
PY - 2021/1
Y1 - 2021/1
N2 - Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease. Studies suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines may be attenuated by the vagus nerve through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. We aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of short-term transcutaneous non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (n-VNS) applied to the cervical vagus nerve in patients with RA. Method: We conducted a single-centre, open-label, preliminary proof-of-concept study of n-VNS in two cohorts of participants with RA: one with high disease activity (n = 16) and one with low disease activity (n = 20). Disease Activity Score based on 28-joint count–C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), cardiac vagal tone, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured at baseline and after 1 and 4 days of n-VNS. Results: In the high disease activity group, n-VNS resulted in reductions in DAS28-CRP (4.1 to 3.8, p = 0.02), CRP (8.2 to 6 mg/mL, p = 0.01), and interferon-γ (29.8 to 22.5 pg/mL, p = 0.02). In the low disease activity group, there was no effect on DAS28-CRP, and n-VNS was associated with a decrease in cardiac vagal tone (p = 0.03) and a reduction in interleukin-10 (0.8 to 0.6 pg/mL, p = 0.02). Participants with high disease activity had lower baseline cardiac vagal tone than those with low disease activity (3.6 ± 2 vs 4.9 ± 3 linear vagal scale, p = 0.03). Cardiac vagal tone was negatively associated with DAS28-CRP (r = −0.37, p = 0.03). Overall, n-VNS was well tolerated. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary support for an anti-inflammatory effect of n-VNS in patients with RA. These findings warrant further investigation in larger placebo-controlled trials.
AB - Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease. Studies suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines may be attenuated by the vagus nerve through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. We aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of short-term transcutaneous non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (n-VNS) applied to the cervical vagus nerve in patients with RA. Method: We conducted a single-centre, open-label, preliminary proof-of-concept study of n-VNS in two cohorts of participants with RA: one with high disease activity (n = 16) and one with low disease activity (n = 20). Disease Activity Score based on 28-joint count–C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), cardiac vagal tone, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured at baseline and after 1 and 4 days of n-VNS. Results: In the high disease activity group, n-VNS resulted in reductions in DAS28-CRP (4.1 to 3.8, p = 0.02), CRP (8.2 to 6 mg/mL, p = 0.01), and interferon-γ (29.8 to 22.5 pg/mL, p = 0.02). In the low disease activity group, there was no effect on DAS28-CRP, and n-VNS was associated with a decrease in cardiac vagal tone (p = 0.03) and a reduction in interleukin-10 (0.8 to 0.6 pg/mL, p = 0.02). Participants with high disease activity had lower baseline cardiac vagal tone than those with low disease activity (3.6 ± 2 vs 4.9 ± 3 linear vagal scale, p = 0.03). Cardiac vagal tone was negatively associated with DAS28-CRP (r = −0.37, p = 0.03). Overall, n-VNS was well tolerated. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary support for an anti-inflammatory effect of n-VNS in patients with RA. These findings warrant further investigation in larger placebo-controlled trials.
KW - CRITERIA
KW - HEART-RATE-VARIABILITY
KW - LEAGUE
KW - MODULATION
KW - MOTILITY
KW - SOMATIC PAIN
KW - VAGAL TONE
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092457657&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/03009742.2020.1764617
DO - 10.1080/03009742.2020.1764617
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33047630
AN - SCOPUS:85092457657
VL - 50
SP - 20
EP - 27
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
SN - 0300-9742
IS - 1
ER -