Migraine In Adults Research Articles

Galcanezumab (Emgality)


 CADTH reimbursement reviews are comprehensive assessments of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, as well as patient and clinician perspectives, of a drug or drug class.
 The assessments inform non-binding recommendations that help guide the reimbursement decisions of Canada's federal, provincial, and territorial governments, with the exception of Quebec.
 This review assesses galcanezumab (Emgality), 120 mg/mL solution for subcutaneous injection.
 Indication: For the prevention of migraine in adults who have at least 4 migraine days per month.

Erenumab dosage for migraine prevention: An evidence-based narrative review with recommendations.

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor or its ligand have changed the landscape of treatment options for migraine. Erenumab is the first and only fully human monoclonal antibody designed to target and block the CGRP receptor. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for preventive treatment of migraine in adults. The recommended dose of erenumab is 70mg monthly, with guidance that some patients may benefit from the 140mg monthly dose. There is a need for information to guide clinical practice on the comparative efficacy and safety of these two dosing options. To evaluate therapeutic and tolerability differences between erenumab 70 and 140mg based on evidence from published literature. This narrative review evaluates therapeutic and tolerability differences between erenumab 70 and 140mg based on a literature search using PubMed interface, Embase and Ovid MEDLINE(R) databases. The key search terms included migraine, AMG 334, AMG334, erenumab, erenumab-aooe, and Aimovig. The search was limited to English language articles or conference abstracts published up to May 2021. From the literature search, we retrieved 23 relevant articles/conference abstracts (19 articles [5 randomized, double-blind studies] and 4 conference abstracts) for inclusion in this narrative review. Although the recommended starting dosage of erenumab is 70mg, this narrative review of the literature indicates that some patients may benefit from a dosage of 140mg erenumab once monthly-especially those with difficult-to-treat disease and prior treatment failures. The evidence indicates that erenumab at 140mg has a numerically better efficacy than 70mg across a broad spectrum of migraine outcomes, including preventing progression to chronic migraine. Cumulative data from the literature support a therapeutic gain with an increase from erenumab 70 to 140mg and a rationale for initiating 140mg in selected patients.

Study of the structural features and solvent effects using ab initio molecular dynamics and energy decomposition analysis of atogepant in water and ammonia

Atogepant is a new drug developed for treating migraine in adults, marking it active with a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist, which can be used to prevent migraine. The main objective of this manuscript is to study the structure and interaction of atogepant with solvents like water and ammonia. We optimized the molecule using the DFT method and did the conformational analysis. A potential energy scan was conducted to ascertain the conformation preference of the compound and found that global minima are at the angles 60, 180, and 300 0 with respect to the C30-C38 bond. The electronic spectra were produced using RCAM-B3LYP functional and identical basis sets with different polar and nonpolar solvents. Methanol showed excellent solvation energy –33.5448 kcal/mol and more interactions in implicit studies. Qualitative studies indicated that the compound has more non-covalent interactions with water when compared to ammonia. Local energy decomposition analysis using DLPNO/CCSD(T) level revealed the exact type of interaction between the drug and water/ammonia. Later we studied the interaction between the molecule and explicit solvent molecules using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and found that the drift velocity is more complex with water. Physico-chemical properties like reactive sites, bioactivities, stabilities, solvation energy, occupancies of electrons in atomic and bonding orbitals, different types of hydrogen bonds, the steric force of interactions, delocalization of electrons, and reactive sites of nucleophiles, and electrophiles are also reported.

Migraine and large artery atherosclerosis in young adults with ischemic stroke.

Migraine is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, but the mechanisms of stroke associated with migraine are debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between migraine and large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) in young adults with ischemic stroke. Patients aged between 18 and 54years consecutively treated for first acute ischemic stroke in a university hospital stroke unit between January 2017 and December 2019 were included in this cross-sectional study. Migraine status was systematically assessed by the same headache specialist. Stenotic and nonstenotic LAA of extracranial and intracranial cerebral arteries were evaluated and graded using the ASCOD (atherosclerosis, small-vessel disease, cardiac pathology, other causes, dissection) criteria. We adjusted the association between migraine and LAA for traditional risk factors. A total of 415 patients were included (mean age [standard deviation], 43.9 [8.7] years; 258/415 [62.2%] men). Migraine with aura (MWA) was diagnosed in 76 patients, and migraine without aura (MWoA) in 68 patients. Patients with migraine had fewer traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Stenotic LAA (10/144 [6.9%] vs. 42/271 [15.5%]; p<0.001) and LAA of any grade (35/144 [24.3%] vs. 138/271 [50.9%]; p<0.001) were significantly less frequent in patients with migraine than in patients without migraine, respectively. Multivariable analysis adjusting for age, sex, overweight, tobacco use, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia showed a negative association between migraine and LAA of any grade (odds ratio [OR]=0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI: 0.254-0.78], p=0.005). This negative association was found for both MWoA (OR=0.42, 95% CI [0.204-0.88], p=0.020) and MWA (OR=0.47, 95% CI [0.228-0.96], p=0.037) compared to no migraine. In this study of young adults with ischemic stroke, migraine had a negative association with LAA. This negative association was independent of traditional vascular risk factors and was found for both MWA and MWoA.

CGRP-targeted drugs for migraine: still many uncertainties

The discovery by Goadsby and colleagues 1 Goadsby PJ Edvinsson L Ekman R Release of vasoactive peptides in the extracerebral circulation of humans and the cat during activation of the trigeminovascular system. Ann Neurol. 1988; 23: 193-196 Google Scholar that calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of migraine was the most important advance in migraine research in the past 35 years. The mechanism of CGRP in the generation of migraine attacks led to the development of oral gepants for the treatment of acute migraine attacks and the prevention of migraine; monoclonal antibodies against CGRP or the CGRP receptor were developed for migraine prophylaxis. These new compounds have shown efficacy in large placebo-controlled trials. 2 VanderPluym JH Halker Singh RB Urtecho M et al. Acute treatments for episodic migraine in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2021; 325: 2357-2369 Google Scholar , 3 Ray JC Kapoor M Stark RJ et al. Calcitonin gene related peptide in migraine: current therapeutics, future implications and potential off-target effects. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2021; 92: 1325-1334 Google Scholar Particularly noteworthy is the good tolerability of these new drugs. Tolerability is important in migraine prophylaxis; the main disadvantage of traditional migraine prophylactic drugs was the high prevalence of adverse reactions, which resulted in poor compliance. Oral medication for acute therapy or prophylaxis also has the disadvantage that it is not uncommon for patients to forget to take the tablets. This problem is avoided by subcutaneous or intravenous administration of monoclonal antibodies against CGRP or its receptor. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-targeting drugs for migraine: how pharmacology might inform treatment decisionsMigraine is the second most disabling disorder across all age groups worldwide. Since 2018, two classes of drugs that inhibit the actions of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is implicated in migraine pathophysiology, have become available: gepants (CGRP receptor antagonists) and monoclonal antibodies directed against CGRP or its receptor. Despite phase 3 clinical trials and some real world evidence, knowledge of the pharmacology and related clinical effects of these drugs is low, and trial data are not necessarily generalisable to all populations. Full-Text PDF

The preventive effect of the combination of atorvastatin and nortriptyline in migraine-type headache: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background and purpose Migraine ranked as the eighth cause of disability worldwide. Statins with anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory endothelial effects have been introduced as an option for the prevention of migraine-type headaches. The current study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of atorvastatin for the prevention of migraine in adults. Method This prospective, triple-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was performed in adult migraineurs from mid-July 2019 to late-April 2020. Patients were randomly assigned to receive atorvastatin or placebo in combination with nortriptyline for 24-weeks. The frequency of headache was the primary outcome, and intensity of the headache and quality of life (QOL) were the secondary outcomes for this study. Results With 34 patients in each arm, 68 patients with migraines based on the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria were enrolled in the study. At week 24, patients in the atorvastatin group experienced significantly fewer migraine attacks than the placebo group (P-value = 0.004). Moreover, there were significant differences between the two groups in QOL at follow-up intervals of 14 (P-value = 0.001) and 24 (P-value < 0.001) weeks. However, no significant difference was observed in the intensity of headache was observed in both groups (P-value > 0.05). The most common adverse effects in intervention and control groups were constipation and insomnia, respectively. Conclusion In patients with migraine, prophylaxis with atorvastatin significantly improved the frequency of headache and QOL over 24 weeks compared with placebo with no effect on the intensity of headache. Statins seem to be a potential promising drug for prophylaxis of migraine headaches.

Atogepant for the prevention of episodic migraine in adults.

Objective:Atogepant is a newly approved medication for the prevention of migraine. This review aims to discuss the efficacy, safety, cost, and place in therapy of atogepant.Methods:The authors performed a systematic search for sources, including articles, abstracts, and poster presentations. Queried databases were the National Institute of Health, US National Library of Medicine Clinical Trials, PubMed, European PMC, and the Cochrane Library. Search terms included atogepant, QULIPTA™, AGN-241689, MK-803, and N02CD07. Full-text, English language, randomized-controlled trials from 1 February 2012 to 1 February 2022 were included in the review. Additional relevant prescribing information, abstracts, and articles identified through the search were considered for inclusion in this review. A total of 193 database entries were evaluated for inclusion in this narrative review. Three articles representing two randomized controlled trials were reviewed.Results and conclusions:Atogepant, a small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist, is a daily oral treatment for migraine prevention. In placebo-controlled clinical trials, atogepant decreased mean monthly migraine days (MMD) over 12 weeks in patients with episodic migraine. Major treatment-related adverse effects include nausea and constipation. Long-term placebo-controlled efficacy and safety studies, chronic migraine studies, and studies in patients that failed more than two classes of preventive therapies are still pending. Atogepant represents one of many novel therapies for the prevention of migraine. To date, no head-to-head comparisons of atogepant versus other agents indicated for migraine prevention have been published. Atogepant offers patients an alternative therapy to injectable or infusion monoclonal antibody treatments and offers an alternative to non-specific migraine medications that are associated with poor tolerability. Due to its high cost and narrower therapeutic indications, atogepant may be reserved for a small subset of migraineurs who prefer oral therapy.

POSC23 Reductions in Migraine and Headache Days with Quarterly and Monthly Fremanezumab in Adult Patients with Migraine in a US Real-World Setting

This retrospective, panel-based online physician chart review assessed effectiveness of quarterly and monthly fremanezumab, a fully-humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG2Δa) that selectively targets calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), for reducing monthly migraine days (MMD) and monthly headache days (MHD) in adult migraine patients up to 6 months.

Risk factors and treatment for migraine in adults in Ouagadougou: A cross-sectional survey

The aim of this study was to describe the migraine treatments implemented in Burkina Faso. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study with a prospective data collection from August to November, 2019 in Burkina Faso. The study included 653 randomly selected participants aged 16 years and over. Female gender, high socioeconomic status, coffee and alcohol consumption, high blood pressure and smoking were significantly and positively associated with migraine. The mean period from the beginning of the symptoms to the initiation of care was 25.93 months ± 42.09 with a range of 0 - 240 months (20 years). While 42 (76.36%) patients self-treated during migraine attacks, 41 (74.55%) never visited a healthcare professional for their migraine. No migraine patient had taken traditional treatment. No improvement was noted in the course of the disease in 28 (50.91%) participants. Migraine predominantly affects women in our context. Psychoactive substances such as coffee, tobacco and alcohol as well as high blood pressure also seem to be risk factors with a strong possibility of reverse causality to be elucidated by a cohort study. Migraine is a disease that responds little or no to treatment which is hardly ever substantive. Key words: Migraine, treatment, risk factors, Sub Saharan Africa, Burkina Faso.

Atogepant: First Approval.

Atogepant (Qulipta™) is an orally administered, small-molecule, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist being developed by AbbVie for the prophylaxis of migraine. In September 2021, atogepant was approved in the USA for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. The drug is also in phase 3 clinical development for the preventive treatment of migraine in various other countries. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of atogepant leading to this first approval for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults.

Total health insurance costs in children with a migraine diagnosis compared to a control group

BackgroundHealth care costs of migraine constitute a major issue in health economics. Several publications analyzed health care costs for adult migraine patients, based on questionnaires or secondary (health insurance) data. Although migraine often starts already in primary school age, data on migraine related costs in children is scarce. In this paper we aimed to assess the migraine-related health care costs in 6 to 11 year old children in Germany.MethodsUsing claims data of a large German health insurer (BARMER), overall annual health care costs of 6 to 11 year old children with a diagnosis of migraine in 2017 (n = 2597) were compared to a control group of 6 to 11 year old children without a headache diagnosis between 2013 and 2017 (n = 306,926). The association of migraine and costs was modeled by generalized linear regression (Gamma regression) with adjustment for sex, age and comorbidities.ResultsChildren with migraine caused considerably higher annual per capita health care costs than children without a headache diagnosis (migraine group: € 1018, control group: € 618). Excess costs directly related to migraine amounted to € 115. The remaining excess costs were related to comorbidities, which were more frequent in the migraine group. Mental and behavioural disorders constituted the most expensive comorbidity, accounting for € 105 of the € 400 annual excess costs in the migraine group.Conclusion6 to 11 year old children with a migraine diagnosis cause significant direct and comorbidity related excess costs in the German health care system.

Prevalence of migraine in adults with celiac disease: A case control cross-sectional study.

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder with various manifestations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-intestinal symptoms of celiac patients, especially migraine, and compare it with healthy individuals. We compared 1000 celiac subjects (CS) registered at our celiac center with the control group for headache-based on International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition criteria and their GI symptoms. Besides, CS with migraine and non-migrainous headache were compared in terms of GI symptoms and accompanied conditions. Headache was more common in CS than controls (34% vs 27% respectively, P value<0.001) and more prevalent in females (71.9% in females vs 28% in males, P value = 0.004). Moreover, the prevalence of migraine in CS was higher than controls (20.7 vs 11.9% respectively, P value<0.001). Furthermore, migraine was more prevalent in females with CD (80% in females vs 19% in males, P value = 0.033), and often without aura (76%). Abdominal pain (76.9%, P value = 0.025), diarrhea (54.9%, P value = 0.002), and constipation (42.9%, P value = 0.011) were the most common GI symptoms in CS with headache and more prevalent in CS with migraine. Conversely, type 1 diabetes mellitus was less common in CS with migraine than in CS with non-migrainous headache. (P value = 0.001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, female sex (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.22-1.83, P value < 0.001), and CD (OR 1.36, 95%CI 1.12-1.65, P value = 0.002) were independent predictors of headache, whereas age more than 60 years (OR 0.70, 95%CI 0.50-0.97, P value = 0.032) had a protective effect. Headache especially migraine is more prevalent in CS than healthy controls. In addition, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation are more common in CS with migraine than in CS with non-migrainous headaches. Therefore, evaluation of CD in patients with migraine and these simultaneous GI symptoms seems reasonable.

Efficacy and Safety of Lasmiditan for Acute Treatment of Migraine in Adults: A Meta-Analysis.

Monotherapy with triptans in acute migraine is ineffective in many patients and contraindicated in certain cardiovascular diseases where alternative therapeutic options are necessary to explore. This meta-analysis has evaluated the efficacy and safety of lasmiditan for the treatment of acute migraine in adults. After performing a literature search on MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane databases, and International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, reviewers assessed eligibility and extracted data from 4 relevant articles. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed in the selection, analysis, and reporting of findings. A random-effects model was used to estimate effect size. Quality assessment was done using the risk of bias assessment tool and meta-regression for probable variables affecting effect size. Subgroup analysis was done depending on the dose of lasmiditan. Lasmiditan use was associated with a significantly higher percentage of patients with pain freedom (odds ratio [OR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72-2.39; P < .00001), sustained pain freedom (OR, 1.93; 95%CI, 1.55-2.39; P <.00001), headache response (OR, 2.05; 95%CI, 1.77-2.36; P < .00001), clinical disability level (OR, 1.36; 95%CI, 1.20-1.55; P < .00001), patients' global impression (OR, 1.88; 95%CI, 1.69-2.10; P < .00001), and significantly lower use of rescue medication (OR, 0.49; 95%CI, 0.38-0.63; P < .00001) compared to placebo. Lasmiditan use was also associated with a higher likelihood of adverse effects like dizziness (OR, 6.54; 95%CI, 4.24-10.07; P < .00001), paresthesia (OR, 4.28; 95%CI, 2.97-6.17; P < .00001), and fatigue (OR, 5.67; 95%CI, 3.78-8.52; P < .00001) compared to placebo. Subgroup analysis showed a dose-dependent effect of lasmiditan on pain freedom, sustained pain freedom, patient's global impression, and occurrence of adverse drug reactions. Prediction probability for effect estimate favoring placebo was calculated to be 0.0017%. Lasmiditan has shown a favorable effect in terms of efficacy and safety in the treatment of an acute attack of migraine in comparison to placebo. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term safety, efficacy, and use in specific subgroups of patients. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42020177838.

Safety findings from CENTURION, a phase 3 consistency study of lasmiditan for the acute treatment of migraine

BackgroundLasmiditan (LTN) is a selective 5-HT1F receptor agonist for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. We present detailed safety findings from the placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase 3 study, of LTN treatment across 4 attacks (CENTURION).MethodsPatients were randomized 1:1:1 to LTN 200 mg (LTN200), LTN100, or a control group that received placebo for 3 attacks and LTN50 for either the 3rd or 4th attack (1:1). Safety analyses were conducted for patients who took ≥1 dose of study drug and, in some cases, those who took all 4 doses.ResultsOverall, 1471 patients treated 4494 attacks. The incidences of treatment-emergent serious adverse events (SAEs) were - placebo, n=2 (0.4 %); LTN100, n=1 (0.2 %); LTN200, n=2 (0.4 %); no specific treatment-emergent SAE was reported in more than one patient. The most common treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with lasmiditan were dizziness, paresthesia, fatigue, nausea, vertigo, and somnolence; the vast majority were mild or moderate in severity. The incidences of these TEAEs were highest during the first attack and decreased during subsequent attacks. For patients who experienced a common TEAE with the first attack, less than 45 % experienced the same event in subsequent attacks. Patients who did not experience an event in the 1st attack infrequently experienced the same event in subsequent attacks.The time of onset of the common TEAE ranged from ~40 min to 1 h (dependent upon TEAE) and, for individual TEAE, the onset was similar across attacks. Duration was dependent upon TEAE and attack. It was shortest for paresthesia (< 2 h for all attacks); it ranged from 1.8 to 5.5 h for other common TEAEs and was generally similar across attacks.Serotonin syndrome was reported for 2 patients post LTN dosing; there were no meaningful differences across treatment groups in suicidality; there was no evidence of an increase in motor vehicle accidents.ConclusionIn this blinded, controlled, multiple-attack study, LTN was associated with generally mild or moderate CNS-related TEAEs of short duration. TEAEs tended to decrease in frequency across the 4 attacks.Trial registrationNCT03670810

Real-world evidence data on the monoclonal antibody erenumab in migraine prevention: perspectives of treating physicians in Germany

BackgroundErenumab, the first-in-class fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor, was shown to be efficacious and safe for the prophylactic treatment of migraine in adults in randomized clinical trials. Large-scale, real-world evidence in multi-centre settings is still needed to confirm these results. Erenumab patient profiles outside clinical trials and physicians’ treatment patterns, as well as data from patients treated in Germany, a severely impacted population, are not published yet.MethodsTELESCOPE was a multi-centre survey gathering real-world data from 45 German headache centres between July 2019 and December 2019. The project consisted of two parts. In the first part, treating physicians shared their experiences on current erenumab treatment with regard to patient profiles, treatment patterns and treatment responses. In the second part, a retrospective chart review was conducted of 542 migraine patients treated with erenumab for at least three months. Treatment responses focused on various aspects of patients’ quality of life.ResultsThe analysis of 542 patients’ charts revealed that three-month treatment with erenumab significantly reduced monthly headaches, migraine and acute medication days. Furthermore, headache intensity and frequency were reduced in over 75 % and accompanying aura in 35 % of patients. The clinical global impression scale revealed a general improvement in 91 % of patients. According to the treating physicians’ professional judgement, 83 % of patients responded to erenumab and 80 % were satisfied with the treatment. Physicians evaluated restricted quality of life, the number of monthly migraine days and previous, prophylactic treatments as the main components of the current patient profile for monoclonal antibody recipients. Based on the assessment of physicians, erenumab reduced migraine symptoms in 65 % and increased quality of life in more than 75 % of their patients.ConclusionsTELESCOPE confirms positive treatment responses with erenumab shown in clinical trials in a real-world multi-centre setting. The results show consistently positive experiences of physicians utilizing erenumab in clinical practice and underline that therapy with this monoclonal antibody is effective in migraine patients, particular in those, who have failed several prophylactic therapies.

Newer Horizon for Treatment of Acute Attack of Migraine: Lasmiditan and Ubrogepant.

Migraine is characterized by severe, intermittent headache attacks with associated symptoms including nausea, vomiting, phonophobia, and photophobia. Still Triptans (selective 5-HT1B/D agonists) are considered as the first-line therapy in acute attack of migraine. Recently two new drugs Lasmiditan and Ubrogepant were approved by United States Food and Drug Administration in acute attack of migraine with or without aura in adults. Lasmiditan is a highly selective 5-HT1F receptor agonist which demonstrated superiority to placebo in the acute treatment of migraine in adults with moderate/severe migraine disability in two similarly designed phase-3 trials, SAMURAI and SPARTAN. Ubrogepant is a novel small molecule oral calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist. The approval was supported by two pivotal phase-3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (ACHIEVE I and ACHIEVE II) that evaluated the efficacy, safety, tolerability. Hopefully, these two drugs may soon be a new addition to the mounting armory of drugs against migraine and may fulfill a substantial unmet need.

Prenatal oestrogen-testosterone balance as a risk factor of migraine in adults

BackgroundMigraine is a common neurological disease with extremely debilitating, but fully reversible symptoms. Women suffer from migraine more often than men. It was assumed that fluctuation of oestrogen level during menstrual cycle is one of many factors responsible for more frequent migraine attacks. The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is considered as an indicator of prenatal sex steroids. Balance of prenatal androgens (testosterone) and oestrogen has been studied in numerous diseases that are affected by hormones. However, the relationship between migraine and the sex steroids balance in prenatal development is still unexplained.The aim of this paper is to provide an evidence of relationship between prenatal oestrogen and testosterone exposure following 2D:4D digit ratio, and migraine prevalence in adults.MethodsWe examined a group of 151 adults (33 males, 118 females) with migraine and a control group of 111 adults (45 males, 66 females). 2D:4D digit ratio of both hands was measured using sliding Vernier calliper.ResultsSignificant differences were found in the right hand. Female migraineurs had lower value of 2D:4D ratio than the control group and the right 2D:4D was lower than left 2D:4D (Δ2D:4D), suggesting prenatal testosterone dominance. The opposite relationship was observed in males. Male migraineurs had higher value of 2D:4D ratio and Δ2D:4D was greater than the control group, suggesting prenatal oestrogen dominance.ConclusionsOur results suggest that depending on sex, different proportion of prenatal sex steroids might be a risk factor of migraine in adults. Women with migraine were presumably exposed in prenatal life to higher testosterone levels relative to oestrogen, while men with migraine were probably exposed in prenatal life to higher levels of oestrogen relative to testosterone.

Thyroid stimulating hormone level in migraine headache

Migraine is a primary headache disorder, the second commonest cause after Tension headahe with a female preponderance.There is complex pathophysiology of migraine and migraine related disorders.Research is going on regarding potential association between migraine and thyroid function.The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Thyroid stimulating hormone level and migraine in adults and also to evaluate association of demographic and headache characteristics of migraine with thyroid function.

A Review of Eptinezumab Use in Migraine.

We present a review of the efficacy and safety profile of eptinezumab (also known by the brand name Vyepti), a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibody (mAb) developed by Lundbeck Seattle BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., that received its first approval in the USA on 21 February 2020 for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. It is administered by an intravenous infusion at a 100 mg dose every 3 months and shows no drug interactions.Studies have shown that eptinezumab is an effective preventative medication in migraine which starts showing its effect from day 1 of its administration, which maintains a consistent level of efficacy through a year of its treatment at doses 100 mg and 300 mg. It was found to be effective at reducing time to headache pain freedom during acute migraine attacks as well.Eptinezumab is a relatively safe drug for the prevention of migraines with treatment-related adverse events occurring at a low frequency. They bear a safe profile in patients with comorbidities like obesity and type 1 diabetes. The most frequent adverse events observed were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), and sinusitis and were usually mild. The development of anti-drug antibodies was common, but they declined to undetectable levels with continued dosing and did not appear to impact the overall safety profile of the drug. Further studies are needed to assess long-term safety, use in different patient populations, and to compare its efficacy to other drugs of its class.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on migraine management in the United States: insights from migraine tracking app users

BackgroundThe nature of COVID-19 pandemic measures has altered the clinical management of migraine, and has also created barriers to evaluate the impact of such measures of migraine patients. Using the Migraine Buddy smartphone application, we assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migraine in users residing in the United States.MethodsMigraine Buddy is a smartphone application by individuals to record their migraine headache episodes, characteristics, and coping mechanisms. For this study, anonymized self-reported data from 163,176 adult Migraine Buddy users in the United States between January 2020 and May 2020, were analyzed for migraines associated with stress. A stress-related migraine is defined as one in which stress or anxiety was reported as a trigger or symptom. A questionnaire on the impact of COVID-19 on migraine and its management was also completed by 923 users from the United States in the app between April 2020 and May 2020.Results88% of the Migraine Buddy database extract and 84% of the respondents are female, with a mean age of 36.2 years. The proportion of stress-related migraine attacks peaked at 53% on March 21 to 23, although the number of migraine attacks decreased. This followed the declaration of the COVID-19 national emergency on March 13 and a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States. Questionnaire respondents felt that the following added more stress: social isolation (22.6%), information overdose (21.2%), access to essentials (food, medication, etc.) (18.7%), and financial concerns (17.8%). To help manage migraine during COVID-19, respondents suggested stress and diet coaching programs and resources (medical articles, etc.) (34.0%), having the option for home delivery of medication (30.6%) and tele-consulting (25.5%).ConclusionHere, we report the change in the proportion of self-reported stress-related migraine in relation to evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as its impact of migraine management. Our data will help increase the understanding of patients’ needs and help with planning and execution of mitigating strategies.