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Phase IV

GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder Migraine Clinical Study (RELIEF)

  • Study HIC#:2000026580
  • Last Updated:04/21/2023

Multi-center, prospective, randomized, placebo- and sham-controlled study to evaluate the GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder for migraine headache relief.

  • Age18 years - 55 years
  • GenderBoth

Contact Us

For more information about this study, including how to volunteer, contact:

Kelly Benson-Atwood

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You can help our team find trials you might be eligible for by creating a volunteer profile in MyChart. To get started, create a volunteer profile, or contact helpusdiscover@yale.edu, or call +18779788343 for more information.

Trial Purpose and Description

Multi-center, prospective, randomized, placebo- and sham-controlled study to evaluate the GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder for migraine headache relief.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Subject is 18-55 years of age at the screening visit.
  2. Subject is willing and capable of complying with the study protocol requirements, including the specified follow-up period, and can be contacted by telephone.
  3. Subject signed an Informed Consent Form prior to study participation.
  4. Subject's symptoms meet International Classification of Headache Disorders - 3 (ICHD-3) Diagnostic Criteria for migraine with or without aura.
  5. Subject has at least one year of migraine symptom duration.
  6. Subject had migraine onset younger than 50 years of age.
  7. Subject has more than one migraine headache day per week on average by history - headache day defined as: headache that meets ICHD-3 criteria for migraine or probable migraine with or without aura and lasts at least four hours or administration of acute medication before four hours (regardless of clinical response to acute medication).
  8. Subject has tried and failed at least two preventive medications at adequate dosage for an adequate duration, in the judgement of the study site neurologist, and be from two separate classifications of the following classes of drugs: antidepressants, antihypertensive, anticonvulsant, onabotulinumtoxin A, CGRP inhibitors or other treatments with at least one positive randomized placebo-controlled trial (See APPENDIX A).
  9. Subject must exhibit stable dosage on their preventive migraine medication for at least two months prior to the screening visit and agree to continue preventive medication at current dosage throughout the duration of the study.
  10. Female subjects are currently not pregnant, breastfeeding or lactating and not planning pregnancy during their participation in the study.
  11. Female subjects capable of becoming pregnant agree to use birth control or abstinence during their participation in the study.
  12. Presence of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), as determined initially by positive bubble study utilizing Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), demonstrating right-to-left shunting.
  13. Subject is willing to complete daily electronic migraine headache log.
  14. Subject is not planning surgery during their participation the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Subject is currently enrolled in any pre-approval investigational study. (Does not apply to long-term post-market studies unless participation might interfere clinically with the RELIEF endpoints.)
  2. Subject has known organic issues which may cause headaches (e.g., temporo-mandibular joint, brain tumor, cervical spinal issues, known seizure disorder, etc.).
  3. Subjects with hemicrania continua, post-traumatic headache, or other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia secondary headache disorders.
  4. Subject has known hypersensitivity or contraindication to thienopyridines.
  5. Subject is currently taking a P2Y12 inhibitor (See APPENDIX B).
  6. Subject has need for chronic oral anticoagulation therapy (e.g., atrial fibrillation, mechanical heart valve, etc.) (See APPENDIX B).
  7. Subject has need for chronic antiplatelet therapy.
  8. Subject has need for daily use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (See APPENDIX B).
  9. Subject has a history of thrombocytopenia within one year, or platelet count <100,000 mm3 identified during the screening phase.
  10. Subject has severe hepatic impairment with reduced synthetic function as documented by prolongation of PT/PTT or total bilirubin > 3.0 mg/dL identified during the screening phase.
  11. Subject has any history of stroke, TIA, or intracranial hemorrhage.
  12. Subject has previously implanted pacemaker, IVC filter, PFO closure device, ASD closure device, left atrial appendage closure device OR any cardiac surgical or interventional history which, in the investigator's opinion, would preclude them from study participation.
  13. Subject has documented right-to-left shunt source in addition to PFO, such as pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.
  14. Subject used opioids, marijuana (medical or recreational) or butalbital-containing medications for acute migraine headache treatment four or more times per month on average within the past six months.
  15. Subject abuses alcohol and/or drugs in the opinion of the Investigator.
  16. Subject is unable to understand the study requirements or has a history of non-compliance with medical advice.
  17. Subject has a history of clinically significant bleeding within six months of the screening visit, any active bleeding, or active peptic ulcer disease.
  18. Subject has an uncontrolled arrhythmia or, if on therapy, within the past 90 days has evidence of arrhythmia control failure (e.g., supraventricular tachycardia while under rate control or atrial fibrillation while under rhythm control).
  19. Subject has elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) which, in the opinion of the implanting physician, precludes safe defect closure.
  20. Subject has uncontrolled systemic hypertension at the time of screening, in the opinion of the investigator.
  21. In the opinion of the Investigator, patient has anatomic criteria identified during the screening evaluation and/or the screening echocardiogram that are unfavorable for successful placement of the GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder.
  22. Subject has active infection at the time of screening that cannot be treated.

Principal Investigator

For more information about this study, including how to volunteer, contact: