NCT06506149 A Prospective Evaluation of Microwave Ablation (MWA) in the Treatment of Relapsed Graves' Disease
| NCT ID | NCT06506149 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | The University of Hong Kong |
| Condition | Graves Disease |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 25 participants |
| Start Date | 2023-07-04 |
| Primary Completion | 2025-12-31 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 25 participants in total. It began in 2023-07-04 with a primary completion date of 2025-12-31.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, with conventional treatment options being anti-thyroid drugs (ATD), radioiodine (RAI) and surgery. For ATD, it has been the first-line treatment over decades. Despite its ability to induce remission, minor side effects such as skin rash, gastrointestinal disturbance and arthralgia occur in around 5% of patients, while serious adverse reactions including agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity are potentially life threatening. Patients are usually treated with ATD for 12 to 18 months but the relapse rate was reported to be up to 50-60% which these patients would require more definitive treatment options with RAI or thyroidectomy. However, RAI is not preferable in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy as it could further worsen eye symptoms. RAI may also cause hypothyroidism in a substantial proportion of patients, with a subsequent need for lifelong thyroxine replacement. As for thyroidectomy, it carries an overall 2-10% risk of complications including bleeding, transient or permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism. Due to the drawbacks of the various conventional treatment options, there has been increasing interest in the development of minimally invasive treatment alternatives in recent years. With the evolution of thermal ablative strategies, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have been reported as feasible treatment options for relapsed Graves' disease. There has also been increasing reports in the use of microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. MWA works via generation of electromagnetic field and is performed by inserting a microwave antenna into the thyroid gland percutaneously under ultrasound (USG) guidance. The active tip of the antenna causes oscillation of the surrounding water molecules which induces frictional heat and creates a thermal ablative effect. As compared to RFA, MWA is not affected by heat sink effect and may require a shorter treatment time. Similar to other thermal ablative approaches, MWA has the merits of avoiding surgical scar, organ preservation as well as being an ambulatory procedure.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * (a) age older than 18 years, * (b) relapsed Graves' disease despite an adequate ATD treatment for 18 months or more * (c) absence of vocal cord immobility Exclusion Criteria: * (a) patients who prefer or are indicated for surgery, * (b) presence of head and/or neck disease preventing hyperextension of the neck, * (c) history of thyroid cancer or other malignant tumours in the neck region, * (d) history of neck irradiation, * (e) severe Graves' ophthalmopathy, * (f) large compressive goitre, * (g) pregnancy or lactation, and * (h) any contraindication to intravenous sedation.
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06506149 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Graves Disease. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06506149 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06506149 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at floralukyan@gmail.com for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06506149 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06506149 clinical trial?
NCT06506149 is sponsored by The University of Hong Kong. The trial plans to enroll 25 participants.