Intensity Of Migraine Attacks Research Articles

Ernährung und Diätetik bei Kopfschmerzen

Foodstuffs and certain dietary habits are frequently considered potential triggers of headaches and migraine. Aspects of nutritional medicine with regard to different headache syndromes will be described with a focus on their clinical relevance. Practical advice concerning the selection of food and drink with regard to prophylaxis of headaches and migraine will provide assistance to the affected. Charts listing aliments suitable or not suitable will render possible a low-trigger diet appropriate for adults and also and specifically for children. Supplementing certain micro-nutrients may serve do reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. Chinese Medicine distinguishes between internal and external headache. According to the Chinese syndromes, individualized dietetic advice and treatment is provided, taking into account the qualitative action profile of nutrients.

A path for two destinations.

We congratulate Dilli et al. (1) on their efforts to clarify the relevance of the greater occipital nerve (GON) block in the prevention of both episodic and chronic migraine. In 2001, our group carried out a similar study on episodic migraine patients (2). The methodology was also double-blind and included an active group (bupivacaine 0.5%) and a placebo group (saline 0.9%). After a 30-day baseline period, a first GON block and second GON block were performed 30 days apart. For both groups, there were no differences in the frequency and duration of migraine attacks, but in the active group, the migraine intensity worsened, possibly reflecting an antinociceptive role of the GON circuitry in migraine pathophysiology. The role of the GON in migraine pathophysiology is ambiguous. While anesthetic blockade of the GON is claimed to control migraine, stimulation of the GON is also reported to have the same effect (3,4). During a local anesthetic blockade of the GON, two opposite effects may occur: a) initially, there may be a nociceptive effect related to the puncture procedure and distension of the nerve endings (3); and b) an antinociceptive (anesthetic) effect may occur over the GON territory. The initial nociceptive input probably reaches the diffuse nociceptive inhibitory control (5) and may, in a manner akin to that observed with acupuncture and electrical stimulation of the GON, lead to migraine control (3,4). However, anesthetic block may lessen the GON tone over the nucleus trigeminalis caudalis, leading to an increase in the intensity of migraine attacks, as seen in our study (2).

Cervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for preventive and acute treatment of episodic and chronic migraine and migraine-associated sleep disturbance: a prospective observational cohort study.

BackgroundThe debilitating nature of migraine and challenges associated with treatment-refractory migraine have a profound impact on patients. With the need for alternatives to pharmacologic agents, vagus nerve stimulation has demonstrated efficacy in treatment-refractory primary headache disorders. We investigated the use of cervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for the acute treatment and prevention of migraine attacks in treatment-refractory episodic and chronic migraine (EM and CM) and evaluated the impact of nVNS on migraine-associated sleep disturbance, disability, and depressive symptoms.MethodsTwenty patients with treatment-refractory migraine were enrolled in this 3-month, open-label, prospective observational study. Patients administered nVNS prophylactically twice daily at prespecified times and acutely as adjunctive therapy for migraine attacks. The following parameters were evaluated: pain intensity (visual analogue scale [VAS]); number of headache days per month and number of migraine attacks per month; number of acutely treated attacks; sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]); migraine disability assessment (MIDAS); depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory® [BDI]); and adverse events (AEs).ResultsOf the 20 enrolled patients, 10 patients each had been diagnosed with EM and CM. Prophylaxis with nVNS was associated with significant overall reductions in patient-perceived pain intensity; median (interquartile range) VAS scores at baseline versus 3 months were 8.0 (7.5, 8.0) versus 4.0 (3.5, 5.0) points (p < 0.001). Baseline versus 3-month values (mean ± standard error of the mean) were 14.7 ± 0.9 versus 8.9 ± 0.8 (p < 0.001) for the number of headache days per month and 7.3 ± 0.9 versus 4.5 ± 0.6 (p < 0.001) for the number of attacks per month. Significant improvements were also noted in MIDAS (p < 0.001), BDI (p < 0.001), and PSQI global (p < 0.001) scores. No severe or serious AEs occurred.ConclusionIn this study, treatment with nVNS was safe and provided clinically meaningful decreases in the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks in patients with treatment-refractory migraine. Improvements in migraine-associated disability, depression, and sleep quality were also noted.

The influence of weather on migraine - are migraine attacks predictable?

ObjectiveThe study aimed at elucidating a potential correlation between specific meteorological variables and the prevalence and intensity of migraine attacks as well as exploring a potential individual predictability of a migraine attack based on meteorological variables and their changes.MethodsAttack prevalence and intensity of 100 migraineurs were correlated with atmospheric pressure, relative air humidity, and ambient temperature in 4-h intervals over 12 consecutive months. For each correlation, meteorological parameters at the time of the migraine attack as well as their variation within the preceding 24 h were analyzed. For migraineurs showing a positive correlation, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictability of a migraine attack based on meteorological information.ResultsIn a subgroup of migraineurs, a significant weather sensitivity could be observed. In contrast, pooled analysis of all patients did not reveal a significant association. An individual prediction of a migraine attack based on meteorological data was not possible, mainly as a result of the small prevalence of attacks.InterpretationThe results suggest that only a subgroup of migraineurs is sensitive to specific weather conditions. Our findings may provide an explanation as to why previous studies, which commonly rely on a pooled analysis, show inconclusive results. The lack of individual attack predictability indicates that the use of preventive measures based on meteorological conditions is not feasible.

Migraine and nosebleed in children case series and literature review

The presence of nose bleeding during a migraine attack as a single occurrence is so far rarely reported. Therefore, we have decided to report such occurrences we have noticed to further improve and build upon possible existing knowledge of such incidences. Method728 children with an average age of 11.5 years, suffering from migraine were examined for nose bleeding. All structural, trauma, coagulation and medical causes were excluded. A computer-based literature search was also conducted to identify other cases of such sort. ResultsEight cases (1.1%) of nose bleeding during attacks of migraine with no other known causes were identified. An additional 3 cases were identified in literature, though the presenting age was 25 years or above. ConclusionIn our case series, nose bleeding exclusively occurred during the attacks of headaches, although it was not considerably related to aura, frequency, location or intensity of migraine attacks. The presence of nose bleeding associated with migraine is an uncommon phenomenon and its mechanism is still unknown.

Progestogen-only contraceptive pill compared with combined oral contraceptive in the treatment of pain symptoms caused by endometriosis in patients with migraine without aura

ObjectiveEvaluate patient satisfaction at 6-month treatment in women with symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis and migraine without aura with (progestogen-only contraceptive pill, POP versus sequential combined oral contraceptives, COC) Study DesignA patient preference trial including 144 women (82 in the group COC and 62 in the group POP). Main outcome measure was the degree of patient satisfaction by using a Likert scale.Secondary objectives were to evaluate differences in endometriosis-related pain and changes in migraine features during the treatment. ResultsIn group POP, 38/62 women (61.2%) were satisfied or very satisfied after treatment, compared to 31/82 women (37.8%) in group COC (p=0.005). The intensity of chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia significantly decreased at 6-month treatment in both the groups. At 6-month treatment, the number of migraine attacks was lower than at baseline in group POP (p=0.002), while it was not reduced in group COC (p=0.521). The intensity of migraine attacks was significantly different between baseline and 6-month treatment in group POP (p<0.001) but not in group COC (p=0.078). ConclusionsPOP is better tolerated than COC and it seems to ameliorate migraine attacks compared to COC in symptomatic patients with rectovaginal endometriosis and migraine without aura. Both drugs efficaciously relieve endometriosis-related pain symptoms. This study supports the use of the POP in women with rectovaginal endometriosis and coexisting migraine without aura.

Cinnarizine for the prophylaxis of migraine associated vertigo: a retrospective study.

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of cinnarizine for the prophylaxis of migraine associated vertigo in the vestibular migraine and migraine with brainstem aura.BackgroundVestibular migraine and migraine with brainstem aura are two principal clinical syndromes that frequently are associated with vertigo. Since cinnarizine is a well-tolerated calcium channel blocker which has acceptable effect on both vertigo and migraine headache, we carried out this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this medication in vestibular migraine and also migraine with brainstem aura associated with vertigo.MethodsThis was a retrospective, single-center, open-label, investigation of the effects of cinnarizine on vestibular migraine and migraine with associated with vertigo. We assessed the change in monthly frequency of vertigo and also frequency, duration and intensity of migraine attacks after one, two and three months of cinnarizine administration.ResultsThe mean frequency of vertigo and also the mean frequency, duration and intensity of migraine headaches per month were reduced significantly after three months of cinnarizine therapy (all p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study suggests that cinnarizine is safe and effective in reducing both headache and vertigo aspects of “migraine plus vertigo” among the patients who suffer from either vestibular migraine or migraine with brainstem aura associated with vertigo.

Self-concept evaluation and migraine without aura in childhood

IntroductionSelf-esteem is related to the broadly understood concept of self-schemas and is a crucial mechanism for a correct psychological development in children and adolescents. The impact of the many psychological difficulties linked to the migraine without aura (MoA) and recurrent headache attacks, such as anger and separation anxiety, on self-esteem has not yet been well investigated. The aims of the present study were to assess self-esteem levels in an objective way and to verify their possible relationship and correlation with the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks, in a population of children and adolescents affected by MoA.MethodsThe study population was comprised of 185 children (88 males [M],97 females [F]) aged between 6 and 12 years (mean 9.04 ± 2.41 years) referred consecutively for MoA to the Center for Childhood Headache, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples and of 203 healthy controls (95 M, 108 F) with mean age 9.16 ± 2.37 years, recruited from schools in Campania. The monthly headache frequency and the mean headache duration were assessed from daily headache diaries kept by all the children, and MoA intensity was assessed on a VAS (visual analog scale). To further evaluate their level of self-concept, all subjects filled out the Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale (MSCS).ResultsThe two study groups were comparable for age (P = 0.621), sex (P = 0.960), and z-score BMI (P = 0.102). The MoA group showed a significant reduction in the MSCS total score (P < 0.001) and in the Social (P < 0.001), Affect (P < 0.001), Family (P < 0.001), and Physical (P < 0.001) domains of the MSCS compared with the control group. The Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a significantly negative relationship between MoA clinical characteristics and MSCS scores, and similarly the frequency of attacks was significantly negatively related with the Social (r = −0.3176; P < 0.001), Competence (r = −0.2349; P = 0.001), Physical (r = −0.2378; P = 0.001), and total (r = −0.2825; P < 0.001) scores of the MSCS. On the other hand, the MoA duration was significantly negatively related with the Social (r = −0.1878; P = 0.01), Competence (r = −0.2270; P = 0.002), Physical (r = −0.1976; P = 0.007), and total (r = −0.1903; P = 0.009) scores of the MSCS.ConclusionOur study first identified differences in self-esteem levels, with an objective tool, in children affected by MoA compared with controls, suggesting the need for evaluation of self-esteem for better psychological pediatric management of children with migraine.

O475 PROGESTOGEN-ONLY CONTRACEPTIVE PILL COMPARED WITH COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE IN THE TREATMENT OF PAIN SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY ENDOMETRIOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA

Objective: Evaluate patient satisfaction at 6-month treatment in women with symptomatic rectovaginal endometriosis and migraine without aura with (progestogen-only contraceptive pill, POP versus sequential combined oral contraceptives, COC) Study Design: A patient preference trial including 144 women (82 in the group COC and 62 in the group POP). Main outcome measure was the degree of patient satisfaction by using a Likert scale. Secondary objectives were to evaluate differences in endometriosis-related pain and changes in migraine features during the treatment. Results: In group POP, 38/62 women (61.2%) were satisfied or very satisfied after treatment, compared to 31/82 women (37.8%) in group COC (p = 0.005). The intensity of chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia significantly decreased at 6-month treatment in both the groups. At 6-month treatment, the number of migraine attacks was lower than at baseline in group POP (p = 0.002), while it was not reduced in group COC (p = 0.521). The intensity of migraine attacks was significantly different between baseline and 6month treatment in group POP (p < 0.001) but not in group COC (p = 0.078). Conclusions: POP is better tolerated than COC and it seems to ameliorate migraine attacks compared to COC in symptomatic patients with rectovaginal endometriosis and migraine without aura. Both drugs efficaciously relieve endometriosis-related pain symptoms. This study supports the use of the POP in women with rectovaginal endometriosis and coexisting migraine without aura. a 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A clinical trial of the effect of St. John’s wort on migraine headaches in patients receiving sodium valproate

St John’s wort (Hypericum perfortum) a medicinal plant used for depression has been shown to increase the levels of brain serotonin, which may also influence migraine headache. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of H. perforatum on the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches in patients. In a clinical trial, 100 patients aged 15 to 45 years, with migraine headaches were randomly assigned to two study groups. The trial was conducted in four phases of 45 days. In the pretreatment phase, patients were drug free. In the first treatment phase, both patient groups received sodium valproate (200 mg/tablet), twice daily. In the second phase, patients in study group 1 continued to use sodium valproate and patients in study group 2 received tablets of H. perforatum thrice daily in addition to sodium valproate. In the third phase of study, patients were medicated identically to the first phase of the trial. Patients were free to take indometacin 25 mg capsules as a rescue medication for migraine throughout. Co-administration of H. perforatum coated tablets with sodium valproate in the second trial phase reduced (P=0.04) the intensity of migraine attacks and evoked a more marked decline in their frequency. Therefore, H. perforatum might be beneficial in migraineurs. Key words: St. John's wort, migraine headache, sodium valproate.

Update on medication-overuse headache.

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a syndrome that can develop in migraineurs after overuse of antimigraine drugs, including opiates and triptans especially. MOH manifests as increased frequency and intensity of migraine attacks and enhanced sensitivity to stimuli that elicit migraine episodes. Although the mechanisms underlying MOH remain unknown, it is hypothesized that repeated use of antimigraine drugs could elicit increased headache attacks as a consequence of neuronal plasticity that may increase responsiveness to migraine triggers. Preclinical studies show that exposure to either opiates or triptans can induce pronociceptive neuroadaptive changes in the orofacial division of the trigeminal ganglia that persist even after discontinuation of the drug treatment. Additionally, medications can elicit increased descending facilitatory influences that may amplify evoked inputs from trigeminal afferents leading to behavioral hypersensitivity reminiscent of cutaneous allodynia observed clinically. Importantly, enhanced descending facilitation may manifest as an inhibition of diffuse noxious inhibitory control. Persistent, pronociceptive adaptations in nociceptors as well as within descending modulatory pathways thus may jointly contribute to the development of MOH.

Migraine Disorder

Migraine disorder is disabling, costly, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. It affects employees' quality of life and ability to work or attend school, potentially decreasing their earning ability. Migraine disorder impacts the workplace substantially through absenteeism and presenteeism and increases health care costs. Although research on migraine disorder is expansive, no systematic research tool or design exists within population studies. This may account for the different prevalence rates seen, especially in African studies, which rely on verbal interviews instead of mail or telephone surveys. Women have a higher prevalence rate throughout the research, but they seek help more often than men. This may contribute to their higher rates, although hormones also play a role. Occupational health nurses can affect the outcome of migraine disorder for employees and employers. They can assist in identifying those employees with migraine disorder who are not diagnosed, those who have not investigated the various available medications, or the lifestyle changes that would decrease the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks. Research is needed to quantify the cost savings of workplace intervention in identifying employees with migraine disorder and its effect on absenteeism, presenteeism, and health care use. Occupational health nurses can determine the effectiveness of education by measuring motivation, lifestyle changes, and workplace modification against the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks. This, in turn, will yield measurable results in reducing absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace. Occupational health nurses can spread this information through employees to their families. As more undiagnosed and undertreated individuals with migraine become educated and pursue diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes, a measurable decrease in health care use and costs may occur. The economic impact of migraine disorder, in terms of workplace absenteeism and presenteeism and increased health care use by employees, continues to be of great concern. This impact may motivate employers to support workplace interventions that educate, screen, and refer migraineurs to appropriate care. Employers may also be motivated to request that a managed care model for migraine be included in health and welfare programs, which would allow for assignment of a nurse case manager with automatic referral to a neurologist. The workplace is an ideal environment for identifying and referring migraine sufferers who only self-treat for symptoms. Prompt and effective treatment, in and out of the workplace, will decrease the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks and increase the quality of life.

Migraine: Traditional or “Innovative” Treatment? A Preliminary Case-Control Study

The aim of this preliminary case-control study was to compare, in patients with migraine and PFO, transcatheter closure of PFO vs. medical treatments. Twelve patients were treated with antimigraine drugs and twelve underwent percutaneous transcatheter closure. All patients were followed-up for 12 months. Our preliminary results seem to confirm that, compared to medical treatment, PFO closure is by far more effective in reducing both frequency, duration and intensity of migraine attacks. Furthermore, the occurrence of prodromal aura is almost abolished.

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale

Whether stroke in a patient with migraine and patent foramen ovale (PFO) is due to PFO or migraine is difficult to decide. In a 33-year-old woman with migraine with aura, a visual field defect developed acutely. Neurological investigation revealed double vision when looking to the left and exaggerated patella tendon reflexes. Since then the patient complained about permanent visual impairment. CT- and MRI-scans of the brain showed a right occipital ischemic stroke. Intensive search for risk factors revealed cigarette smoking and chronic hypovolemia. On transesophageal echocardiography an inter-atrial hypermobile septum and a PFO were detected. The patient underwent closure of the PFO by means of an Amplatzer PFO occluder nine weeks after the stroke. Since then she did not experience a further cerebrovascular event or migraine attack. This case shows that in a patient with PFO and migraine with aura, stroke may be attributable to migraine rather than to PFO. Occlusion of the PFO may reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.

An open-label pilot study on the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam in the prophylaxis of migraine

A preliminary, open label study was conducted on 20 patients with migraine without aura and with high headache frequency to assess the efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drug levetiracetam. Patients were treated with levetiracetam for three months. The drug was started at a dose of 500 mg and slowly increased within 10 days to the target dose of 2000 mg/day. After 3 months of treatment, 11 (57.9%) of 19 patients who completed the study had a reduction of at least 50% in headache frequency. The intensity of migraine attacks was significantly reduced as was the use of symptomatic drugs. A 3-month carry-over effect was found in about two-thirds of the 11 patients reporting a positive treatment response. Levetiracetam was well tolerated and no patient discontinued the drug due to side effects. This preliminary study supports the potential role of levetiracetam as a new preventive treatment for migraine without aura. The promising results obtained should be confirmed by further research with a double-blind controlled design.

Labetalol for prophylactic treatment of intractable migraine during pregnancy.

Headaches tend to improve in the majority of migraineurs during pregnancy, but some patients report a worsening of migraine and present a management challenge because of the restrictions of pharmacotherapy during pregnancy. Treatment options become even more limited for pregnant migraineurs who develop preeclampsia. Labetalol was tried successfully in reducing the frequency, duration, and intensity of migraine attacks in a pregnant woman with preeclampsia. There were no significant side effects and the patient delivered a healthy baby without complications.

The Use of Tinted Glasses in Childhood Migraine

20 children with clinically diagnosed migraine were asked to wear either a rose coloured tint or density matched blue tint for a period of 4 months. The frequency, duration and intensity of migraine attacks were recorded, together with the amount of visually provoked beta activity in the EEG. After one month's wear all the children in the study revealed an initial improvement in headache frequency. However, only those children wearing rose tints sustained this improvement up to 4 months, when the mean headache frequency had improved from 6.2 per month to 1.6 per month. The headache frequency of those children wearing blue tints revealed no overall improvement after 4 months. The improvements in headache frequency in children wearing rose tints correlated with a reduction in visually provoked beta activity.

β-Adrenoceptor Blockers and Calcium Antagonists in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Migraine

Based on published reports of controlled double-blind studies, the efficacy of beta-receptor blockers and calcium antagonists in the prophylactic treatment of migraine is reviewed. Taking into consideration problems in trial design and evaluation of the effects of treatment, and the amount of documentation, it may be concluded that propranolol, metoprolol, timolol, nadolol and atenolol have been shown to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks in patients with common as well as classical migraine. The effect on duration and intensity of migraine attacks is less clear. Treatment effect is generally seen within 4 weeks, but seems to increase with time. Nonselective beta-receptor blockers as well as drugs selective for beta1-receptors may be effective, and their efficacy is comparable to that of other active antimigraine drugs. Available studies do not exclude the fact that beta-receptor blockers with partial agonist activity (intrinsic sympathomimetic activity) have an effect, but suggest that their efficacy is inferior to that of blockers lacking this property. Among the calcium antagonists tested for prophylactic effect in migraine, the effects of verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem seem promising, but available documentation does not allow any definitive statements of efficacy to be made, particularly not for nifedipine and diltiazem. The ability of flunarizine to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks in patients with common and classical migraine is well documented; its effect on attack duration and intensity is less well established. The response rate is similar to that for beta-receptor blockers, and to that, for example, for pizotifen (pizotyline). Nimodipine also appears to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, but the efficacy of this drug, compared with other alternatives, remains to be definitely established.