Tracking autonomic blood-pressure changes after spinal cord injury to predict complications
Official title: Longitudinal Autonomic Characterization as a Predictor for Secondary Medical Complications Post-SCI
Run by Mayo Clinic · NCT07210437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will test whether tracking blood pressure and autonomic responses over time in adults with C6–T12 spinal cord injuries can help predict later medical complications.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 18 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Mayo Clinic Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Rochester, Minnesota) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 31, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | June 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | May 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07210437 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18–75 with a spinal cord injury from C6 to T12 (ASIA A–D), either within 3 months of injury or more than 1 year post-injury, who are medically stable and can undergo autonomic testing are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with active cardiovascular, respiratory, peripheral neurological, or autonomic disease, pregnant or lactating women, or those taking medications that interact with phenylephrine are unlikely to be eligible or to receive benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional protocol at Mayo Clinic enrolls adults with cervical-to-thoracic (C6–T12) spinal cord injuries, including both acute (<3 months) and chronic (>1 year) participants. Subjects undergo standardized autonomic testing including sympathetic inhibition and above-level and below-level sympathetic activation with repeated measurements over time. Some tests involve vasoactive provocation (e.g., phenylephrine) and physiologic maneuvers while monitoring safety and cardiovascular responses. The study aims to link longitudinal patterns of autonomic regulation to the risk of developing secondary medical complications using a small, deeply phenotyped cohort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help clinicians identify people at higher risk for blood-pressure–related complications after SCI so they can receive earlier monitoring or preventive care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown autonomic dysfunction after SCI and associations with complications, but using longitudinal pharmacologic and physiologic autonomic testing to predict future medical events is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria * 18-75 years old * Spinal cord injury with neurological level of injury from C6-T12 * ASIA Impairment Scale A-D. * Either acute SCI \<3 months prior (n=10) or chronic SCI (\>1 year since injury, n=8). Exclusion criteria * Symptoms of cardiovascular (including, but not limited to: hypertension, stroke, chest pain, etc.), respiratory, peripheral neurological or autonomic disease (particularly diabetes mellitus requiring treatment); * Women who are pregnant or lactating * Taking or being administered a medication known to potentially have adverse interactions with phenylephrine * In the judgement of the principal investigator, any illness or condition that will interfere with the patient's ability to comply with the protocol, compromise patient safety, or interfere with the interpretation of the study results.
Where it's running
-
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ryan J. Solinsky, MD — Mayo Clinic
- Study coordinator: Erin Lund
- Email: lund.erin@mayo.edu
- Phone: 507-284-9298
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation with 4-aminopyridine and intensive rehab for chronic spinal cord injury
This pilot study tests whether combining noninvasive spinal stimulation, dalfampridine, and rigorous rehab is safe and feasible for adults with chronic spinal cord injury and whether it can help improve movement and walking.
-
NG004 for incomplete cervical spinal cord injury
This trial tests NG004 versus placebo to see if it is safe and helps motor function and daily life in adults with acute incomplete cervical spinal cord injury.
-
Robot-assisted training for arm and leg movement after stroke or injury
This study tests whether adding ZEPU-AI robotic training to usual therapy is safe and helps adults with arm or leg movement problems from stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, or orthopedic conditions.
-
ZEPU-AI3 Lower Limb Feedback Training and Evaluation Robot in Rehab
This pilot trial tests whether adding the ZEPU-AI3 robotic leg training with real-time feedback to standard rehab helps adults with lower limb motor problems from stroke, spinal cord injury, or similar conditions.
-
Combined magnetic stimulation and ultrasound for detrusor overactivity in spinal cord injury
This study tests whether using high-frequency sacral nerve stimulation together with bladder-directed ultrasound can reduce involuntary bladder contractions and improve bladder function in people with spinal cord injury.
-
Hybrid HIIT-FES cycling program for people with spinal cord injury
This study tests a hybrid exercise program that combines functional electrical stimulation cycling with voluntary arm work to improve health in adults with spinal cord injury.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.