Effects of Erythropoietin for Cognitive Side-effects of ECT

Summary

EPO-T aims to investigate (i) whether short-term add-on treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) can reduce cognitive side-effects of ECT and (ii) whether such effects are long-lasting. Further, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be used to explore the neural underpinnings of such beneficial effects of EPO. Finally, the trial examines whether potential protective effects of EPO on cognition are accompanied by changes in markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroplasticity. It is hypothesized that EPO treatment will (i) counteract ECT-induced cognitive decline, accompanied by (ii) increased sub-regional hippocampal volume, (iii) greater memory-related hippocampal activation and reinforcement of dorsolateral prefrontal activity during memory encoding and working memory, and (iv) changes in peripheral markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and neuroplasticity. Furthermore, we hypothesize that add-on EPO-treatment will produce greater, more sustained mood improvement than ECT treatment alone.

Timeline

Start

2017-06-26

Primary completion

2023-01-10

Completion

2023-02-10

Publications

• Miskowiak KW, Petersen JZ, Macoveanu J, Ysbaek-Nielsen AT, Lindegaard IA, Cramer K, Mogensen MB, Hammershoj LG, Stougaard ME, Jorgensen JL, Schmidt LS, Vinberg M, Ehrenreich H, Hageman I, Videbech P, Gbyl K, Kellner CH, Kessing LV, Jorgensen MB. Effect of erythropoietin on cognitive side-effects of electroconvulsive therapy in depression: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2024 Feb;79:38-48. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.12.004. Epub 2023 Dec 20.
• Schmidt LS, Petersen JZ, Vinberg M, Hageman I, Olsen NV, Kessing LV, Jorgensen MB, Miskowiak KW. Erythropoietin as an add-on treatment for cognitive side effects of electroconvulsive therapy: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2018 Apr 19;19(1):234. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-2627-2.

Drugs

Indications