Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 70

Ischemic preconditioning to reduce ischemic events in Moyamoya with standard care

Official title: A Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Remote Ischemic Conditioning Therapy Versus Optimal Medical Therapy in Reducing the Recurrence of Ischemic Events in Symptomatic Moyamoya Disease

Run by Beijing Tiantan Hospital · NCT07889531 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests whether remote ischemic conditioning can lower stroke risk for adults with Moyamoya disease who are receiving standard medical care.

More Moyamoya Disease trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
Enrollment256 (estimated)
SponsorBeijing Tiantan Hospital
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
StatusRecruiting
StartedOctober 10, 2026
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2027
Study endsDecember 31, 2027
Registry record updatedOctober 28, 2026
Trial IDNCT07889531 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults 18–70 with symptomatic Moyamoya disease or Moyamoya syndrome, undergoing non-surgical management, and able to provide informed consent.

Probably not a fit

Patients who have no response to remote conditioning, those with contraindications to the procedure, or who progress rapidly regardless of intervention may not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This multicenter, prospective, double-blind randomized controlled trial compares standard remote ischemic preconditioning (RIC) with a sham control in adults with symptomatic Moyamoya disease or Moyamoya syndrome. Participants are randomized 1:1 using a central system and followed to assess incidence of cerebral ischemic events, imaging markers of disease progression, and long-term functional outcomes. Primary questions include whether RIC reduces strokes or TIAs, whether it slows progression as seen on imaging and clinical scales, and whether it improves quality of life. The study includes adults aged 18 to 70 who have non-surgical treatment plans and are not scheduled for revascularization within 6 months. Outcomes will be analyzed across multiple centers to determine potential clinical benefit and feasibility of wider adoption.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience fewer ischemic events and improved long-term outcomes with a non-invasive adjunct to standard therapy.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in related conditions have shown promise for remote ischemic conditioning, but this exact approach in Moyamoya is still being evaluated.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. The patient is aged between 18 and 70 years old;
2. There is evidence from MRA, CTA or DSA, and the patient is professionally diagnosed with moyamoya disease or moyamoya syndrome;
3. The patient has ischemic symptoms related to moyamoya vasculopathy, including transient ischemic attack (TIA) and cerebral infarction (limb weakness, hemiplegia, paresthesia, speech disorder, etc. The symptoms may recur in the unilateral limb, or progress to bilateral attacks or alternating bilateral attacks);
4. After clinical evaluation, non-surgical treatment strategies such as drug therapy and risk factor management are planned to be adopted currently, and the patient is not planned to undergo cerebral blood flow revascularization within 6 months after randomization during screening;
5. The patient has signed the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of intracranial hemorrhage (such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral parenchymal hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage) and other cerebrovascular diseases (such as intracranial aneurysm, cerebral arteriovenous malformation, arteriovenous fistula, etc.);
2. History of brain tumor, severe craniocerebral trauma, encephalitis, meningitis and other central nervous system inflammatory diseases, or other major craniocerebral diseases, any form of invasive brain treatment history and radiotherapy history;
3. Presence of severe or uncontrolled systemic diseases, or vital organ dysfunction that the investigator judges may significantly increase the subject's research risk or affect the completion of follow-up, including but not limited to severe cardiac insufficiency (ejection fraction \<50% or NYHA class III-IV cardiac function), severe liver function abnormality (such as ALT or AST \> 2 times the upper limit of normal value), severe renal insufficiency (such as serum creatinine \> 3 mg/dL), severe or uncontrolled respiratory diseases, severe non-cardiovascular comorbidities with expected survival time \<1 year;
4. There is a clear source of cardiogenic embolism, including rheumatic mitral or aortic valve stenosis, prosthetic valve, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, sick sinus syndrome, left atrial myxoma, patent foramen ovale, left ventricular mural thrombus, valve vegetation, congestive heart failure, bacterial endocarditis, or other cardiovascular diseases that affect study participation;
5. Uncontrolled severe hypertension, that is, seated systolic blood pressure \>180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \>110 mmHg after drug treatment;
6. Severe hemostatic disorder or severe coagulation dysfunction;
7. Contraindications to RIC treatment:

(1) Combined with upper extremity peripheral vascular disease or those judged by the investigator to be unsuitable for upper arm cuff compression, especially vascular lesions that may increase the risk of upper extremity ischemia, including known moderate to severe stenosis or occlusion of the subclavian artery, axillary artery, brachial artery, radial artery or ulnar artery, subclavian steal syndrome, and obvious symptoms of upper extremity ischemia; (2) There are local upper extremity conditions that may affect the safe implementation of RIC, including severe skin or soft tissue infection, skin breakage, unhealed wounds, recent upper extremity trauma or fracture, obvious hematoma, severe edema or lymphedema, arteriovenous fistula or hemodialysis access, PICC or other vascular access not suitable for compression, recent upper extremity deep vein thrombosis or thrombophlebitis, etc.; (3) Known history of allergy to RIC equipment or its constituent materials 8. Patients who refuse follow-up or cannot communicate due to severe mental illness; 9. Unfit for taVNS wearing due to skin breakage, infection, redness and swelling at the wearing site; 10. Pregnant and lying-in women; 11. Participate in other studies at the same period.

Where it's running

  • Titan Hospital; Capital Medical University
    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.