This will be a pilot multi-arm clinical trial investigating the feasibility of Lumbrokinase (LK) as an intervention in three clinical cohorts: * Long Covid (LC) * Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) * Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
120
Boluoke® brand lumbrokinase capsules will be taken daily for 6 weeks.
The Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illnesses (CoRE)
New York, New York, United States
RECRUITINGEuroQol Visual Analogue Scale Score (EQ-VAS)
The EQ VAS is a visual analogue scale that allows individuals to rate their overall health from 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health), providing a quantitative measure of health as judged by the patient.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
The EuroQol Five-Dimensional Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L)
The EQ-5D-5L is a validated, standardized, generic instrument that is a preference-based health- related quality of life questionnaire. The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems and extreme problems. The patient is asked to indicate their health state by ticking the box next to the most appropriate statement in each of the five dimensions. This decision results in a 1-digit number that expresses the level selected for that dimension. The digits for the five dimensions can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state. Full scale from 5 to 25, with higher score indicating poorer health outcomes.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
10-Meter Walk Test
The scoring for the 10-meter walk test involves recording the time it takes to walk 10 meters and then calculating walking speed in meters per second (m/s). The test typically measures the time it takes to walk the middle 6 meters of a 10-meter walk, allowing for acceleration and deceleration.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD)
The RMSSD is obtained by first calculating each successive time difference between heartbeats in ms. Then, each of the values is squared and the result is averaged before the square root of the total is obtained. This is a measure of parasympathetic nervous system function. Higher RMSSD values generally indicate greater parasympathetic activity and a more resilient heart.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
BrainCheck Cognitive Assessment Battery
The BrainCheck software is an advanced digital cognitive assessment completed on a computer or tablet. Scores within one standard deviation of the mean are considered normal, while scores outside this range may suggest cognitive impairment.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
General Symptom Questionnaire (GSQ-30)
The General Symptom Questionnaire-30 (GSQ-30) is a valid and reliable instrument to assess symptom burden among patients with acute and post-treatment. The GSQ-30 total score ranges from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating a greater symptom burden.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Medical Research Council Breathlessness Scale (MRC)
The General Symptom Questionnaire-30 (GSQ-30) is a valid and reliable instrument to assess symptom burden among patients with acute and post-treatment. The GSQ-30 total score ranges from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating a greater symptom burden.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS)
The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) is a tool used to identify and classify pain, particularly neuropathic pain, based on a patient's reported symptoms and signs of nerve damage. A score of 12 or more on the LANSS is generally considered indicative of neuropathic pain.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2)
A PHQ-2 score ranges from 0 to 6, with 3 being the optimal cut-off point for depression screening. A score of 3 or higher indicates a high probability of major depressive disorder. A score of 2 or higher may be preferred in situations where clinicians want to ensure that few cases of depression are missed.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)
The GAD-7 is a 7-item scale developed and validated to identify generalized anxiety disorder and its severity. It assesses the frequency of 7 anxiety symptoms and scores the responses from 0 ("Not at all") to 3 ("Nearly every day"). Total scores of 5, 10, and 15 correspond to mild, moderate, and severe generalized anxiety disorder, respectively. Full scale from 0-21, with higher score indicating more symptoms.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Neuro-QoL™ v2.0 Cognitive Function-Short Form
The Neuro-QoL Cognitive Function v2.0 short form assesses perceived difficulties in cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, decision making, planning, organizing, calculating, remembering, and learning. The short form consists of 8 questions assessed on a 5-point Likert scale, resulting in a raw score range of 8 to 40. A raw score is then converted to a T-score using conversion tables. Scores 0.5 - 1.0 SD worse than the mean (T-score 40-45) = mild symptoms/impairment. Scores 1.0 - 2.0 SD worse than the mean (T-score 30-40) = moderate symptoms/impairment. Scores 2.0 SD or more worse than the mean (T-score below 30) = severe symptoms/impairment.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Fatigue Severity Scale
The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) uses a 7-point scale (1-7) to assess fatigue, with higher scores indicating greater severity, and a total score ranging from 9 to 63. Higher scores indicate more severe fatigue.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
DePaul Post-Exertional Malaise Questionnaire (DSQ)
The DSQ is designed to evaluate 54 classic ME/CFS symptoms, including fatigue, post-exertional malaise, sleep, pain, neurological/cognitive impairments, and autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immune symptoms. Each symptom's frequency and intensity are rated on a 5-point scale (0-4). Frequency and severity scores are multiplied by 25, added together, and then divided by 2 to create a composite frequency/severity score for each symptom. These scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a greater symptom burden.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
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