Using oxygen to treat acute attacks in children with alternating hemiplegia

Oxygen Therapy As an Acute Treatment for Dystonic And/or Plegic Attacks in Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood

Phase 2 Interventional Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · NCT06248645

This study is testing whether high-flow oxygen can help stop sudden attacks in children with Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment24 (estimated)
Ages1 Year and up
SexAll
SponsorAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Lyon and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06248645 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the use of high-flow oxygen as an acute treatment for dystonic and plegic attacks in children with Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. The study is designed as a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial, where participants will receive either oxygen or a placebo (medical air) in two successive treatment periods. The primary outcome is the proportion of motor attacks that stop within 30 minutes of symptom onset over a 5-week period. Secondary outcomes include the duration of attacks, quality of life assessments, frequency of attacks, and treatment tolerance.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children over 1 year old diagnosed with AHC due to ATP1A3 mutations who experience at least one dystonic or plegic attack per week.

Not a fit: Patients with severe respiratory diseases or those unable to follow the study protocol may not benefit from this treatment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve the management of acute attacks in children with AHC, enhancing their quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel for AHC, previous studies have shown promising results with oxygen therapy in other conditions, suggesting potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age \> 1 year old
2. Patients able to administrate high-flow oxygen through a non rebreathing facial mask, either alone or with assistance
3. Patients with a diagnosis of AHC caused by ATP1A3 mutations presenting at least one dystonic or plegic attack per week lasting more than 30 minutes
4. Absence of long-term treatment or long-term treatment stable over the last month and during the duration of the trial
5. Patients able to give written informed consent
6. Affiliation to social insurance

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability for the patients and/or caregivers to follow the protocol (inability to read or understand the instructions, no access to smartphone or computer to fill the informatics patient's form)
2. Patients with severe or uncontrolled obstructive or restrictive chronic respiratory disease (asthma, COPD, obesity, neuromuscular disease), acute systemic aggression (acute coronary syndrome, stroke, sepsis, head trauma) or congenital cardiopathy with a risk of hypercapnia following oxygen administration
3. Women that are pregnant (a negative pregnancy test is required for inclusion) or breath feeding
4. Patients involved in an other clinical trial

Where this trial is running

Lyon and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.