Evaluation of Eye Blinking Patterns to Diagnose and Predict Recovery in Adults with Disorders of Consciousness After Severe Brain Injury

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are exploring the use of spontaneous eye blinking characteristics to help diagnose and predict recovery in patients with Disorders of Consciousness DoC after severe acquired brain injury sABI. This multi-center, prospective observational study involves adults with DoC, including Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome UWS and Minimally Conscious State MCS, admitted to several European neurorehabilitation centers. The study focuses on improving diagnostic and prognostic tools by examining eye blink parameters such as rate, amplitude, duration, and variability. Participants include 70 patients with DoC and a reference group of 23 healthy volunteers balanced by age and sex. Each patient undergoes two 20-minute EEG-EOG resting examinations within two weeks of study entry, spaced 24 hours apart, with recordings made while awake and in a quiet environment. Eye blinking is monitored at the bedside or in a wheelchair, with arousal facilitation protocols used if needed. A six-month follow-up assessment is also planned to evaluate outcomes. During the study, patients are assessed using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised CRS-R before and after EEG-EOG recordings. Data collection follows routine clinical practice without deviations. Researchers will analyze blink features and clinical scores to evaluate diagnostic and prognostic value. The study spans approximately 24 months with enrollment over 12 months, and safety monitoring includes repeated EEG sessions if artifacts occur. Healthy volunteers also undergo two EEG-EOG sessions to provide comparison data.

Spontaneous Eye Blinking in Disorders of Consciousness