Erenumab in prophylaxis of migraine – pilot study

Abstract

The aim of preventive treatment of episodic and chronic migraine is to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks and thereby improve patient’s quality of life. It is suggested that calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) plays a critical role in migraine patophysiology. In last few decades a new class of drugs was developed – monoclonal antibodies against CGRP. One of them is erenumab, which has been available in Poland since November 2018. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of erenumab in migraine prophylaxis in polish patients with episodic and chronic migraine. Adult patients diagnosed with migraine (according to ICHD 3) with at least 4 migraine headache days in month were included in this study. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with more than 50% reduction in number of migraine headache days after the first month of treatment. From December 2018 to April 2019 9 women (24–66 years; average 43.8 years) were included. The average migraine headache days in this study group was 9 (5–20). The participants were treated with subcutaneously delivered erenumab in daily dose of 70 mg. After the first month of treatment in 7 from 9 women (77.5 %) primary endpoint was reached. In 3 of 9 (30%) patients itch was noted. The results of this study suggest efficacy and good tolerability profile of erenumab in polish patients with episodic and chronic migraine. The future study are needed with larger groups of participants.