This trial is designed to determine if the inflammation modulating effect of vagus nerve stimulation can improve pulmonary function and limit progression to ARDS in hospitalized COVID-19 hospitalized patients.
Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 predominantly die of organ failure due to a surge of
pro-inflammatory cytokines triggering the need for mechanical ventilation, often due to acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Known as a cytokine storm, the surge in cytokines is
similar to the excessive inflammatory reaction associated with septic shock.
Anti-viral agents will most likely be required to reduce the molecular viral burden in
COVID-19 patients, but an additional approach to control the damaging cytokine release is
required to alter the course of disease in hospitalized patients and improve chances of
survival. Immunosuppressant drugs may reduce inflammation and the tissue damaging cytokines,
but they could also be detrimental by inhibiting natural anti-viral immune responses (i.e.,
suppression of interferons), thereby delaying viral clearance and increasing the risk of
secondary infections and death.
The reason for the severity of the disease course in some individuals may lie in the
regulation of the immune system by the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is involved in an
inflammation controlling reflex similar to the blood pressure regulating baroreflex. The
vagus inflammatory reflex is triggered when the afferent vagus nerve senses inflammatory
products through peripheral receptors.
Vagus nerve activity is relayed through the central nervous system to the efferent vagus
nerve. This pathway involves the splenic nerve, which when activated releases norepinephrine
and results in suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine production by macrophages and
alleviates inflammation in many pathological settings (e.g., endotoxemia, peritonitis, or
acute kidney injury).
Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve using VNS can improve the body's natural ability to
regulate the inflammatory response and may be potent enough to suppress pro-inflammatory
cytokines and prevent death from COVID-19, especially if used early enough in the course of
hospitalization.
In rat models of sepsis, VNS attenuates the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, prevents
hypotension, modulates coagulation, and prevents fibrinolysis activation, decreasing organ
dysfunction, and improving survival. Human studies also demonstrate that VNS suppresses the
production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improves clinical symptoms in rheumatoid
arthritis, intractable epilepsy, atrial fibrillation, and Crohn's Disease.
This suggests that VNS may be effective in treating disorders characterized by cytokine
dysregulation and that it has the potential to prevent hospitalized patients with COVID-19
from progressing to respiratory failure and death.
Device: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation involves stimulating the auricular branch of the vagus nerve with a imperceptible electrical current within the concha of the ear.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Patients who are 18 years of age
2. Tested positive or suspected/presumed positive for COVID-19 infection
3. Patients requiring hospital admission moderate to severe pneumonia and pneumopathy
4. Patients showing fever and respiratory symptoms with radiological findings of
pneumonia
5. Respiratory distress (≧30 breaths/ min) or Oxygen saturation ≤93% at rest in ambient
air; or oxygen saturation ≤97 % with O2 > 5L/min
6. Patient is able to provide signed and witnessed Informed Consent
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Already enrolled in a trial for COVID-19 therapy
2. Potentially life threatening heart rhythm
3. Pregnancy or potential pregnancy
4. Current implantation of an electrical and/or neurostimulator device, including but not
limited to a cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator, vagal neurostimulator, deep brain
stimulator, spinal stimulator, bone growth stimulator, or cochlear implant
5. History of aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, brain tumors, or significant head trauma
6. Belongs to a vulnerable population or has any condition such that his or her ability
to provide informed consent, comply with the follow-up requirements, or provide
self-assessments is compromised (e.g. homeless, developmentally disabled and prisoner)
Hospital Zonal Virgen del Carmen de Zárate
Zárate, Buenos Aires, Argentina