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Hypercapnia Treatment for Respiratory Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

This study is looking at how a treatment called intermittent hypercapnia might help people with spinal cord injury (SCI/D) who also have sleep apnea. Hypercapnia means having higher-than-normal levels of carbon dioxide in your blood. The researchers want to see if giving this treatment five days a week for two weeks can improve breathing. You might be able to join if you are an adult (18-89 years old) with a chronic spinal cord injury (more than 6 months post-injury) and have sleep-disordered breathing. People without SCI/D but with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can also participate. The main goal of this study is to see how many people join (recruitment rate) within two weeks. The current status of this study is unclear, and it plans to enroll 30 participants.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 30 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
Participants will receive intermittent hypercapnia treatment five days per week for two weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoint, recruitment rate, is measured at 2 weeks. Further follow-up is not specified.

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NCT05536076

Effect of Hypercapnia Treatment on Respiratory Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

Recruiting
NAAges 18–89InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~30 participants
Updated 2026-04-02 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Hypercapnia treatment

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Recruitment rate
Measured over 2 weeks

Conditions

Sleep Apnea
SCI/D
Hypercapnia

Explore related trials

HypercarbiaSleep ApneaSpinal Cord Injury

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Michigan1

Study leadership

  • Abdulghani Sankari, MD PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI

Who to contact

Abdulghani Sankari, MD PhD
[email protected]
(313) 576-1000 · ext. 63499
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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Adult patients with chronic SCI/D (\>6 months post-injury)
American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification A-D who have evidence of SDB (excluding those with no evidence of a neurologic deficit based on ASIA classification)
Able-bodied patients (without SCI/D0 who have OSA.

Exclusion

Receiving continuous mechanical ventilation (except PAP therapy which is considered usual treatment for SDB
Severe congestive heart failure with ejection fraction \<35%
Recent health event that may affect sleep
stroke
acute myocardial infarction
recent surgery
hospitalization
Alcohol or substance abuse (\<90 days sobriety)
Self-described as too ill to engage in study procedures
Evidence of hypercapnia on spontaneous breathing (end-tidal CO2 \>50 mmHg)
Unable to provide self-consent for participation

What this trial measures

  • Recruitment rate2 weeks

    Determine the recruitment rate in the intervention arm and determine how many continue into the sham arm. (Number of patients enrolled and completed the study)