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Clinical Management of Migraine

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A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Neurology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (18 April 2024) | Viewed by 14662

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Dr. Maria Albanese

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Guest Editor

1. Regional Referral Headache Center, Neurology Unit, University Hospital Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
2. Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: migraine; headache; neuropathic pain; neurodegenerative diseases; brain diseases; neurophysiology; neuroinflammation; neuroimmunology; multiple sclerosis; demyelinating diseases; botulinum toxins; neuroimaging; clinical neurology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Migraine is a polygenic, dysautonomic, and chronic neurological condition marked by a "lower threshold of neuronal hyper-excitability", known as "the migrainous brain", with distinctive periodicity. Migraine is divided into the migraine with aura (MA) and the migraine without aura (MO).

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimates, it affects more than 1.12 billion people worldwide and is a major cause of disability worldwide. Although migraines have been recognized for centuries, it continues to be an important challenge for clinicians. There is no cure for migraines, but several acute and preventive treatments are available to help mitigate the symptoms. At present, some drugs are used clinically to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, such as Analgesics, Triptans, CGRP receptor antagonists, etc. Acupuncture and feverfew are alternative therapies to relieve migraines. Devices and surgery are options for those who show no improvement with medication. However, migraine treatment is often limited by insufficient therapy response, leading to the need for individually adjusted medication.

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in the field of migraines. Therefore, researchers in this field are encouraged to submit original articles, reviews, and commentaries to this Special Issue (case reports and short reviews are not accepted).

Dr. Maria Albanese
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

migraine
pain
management
diagnosis
therapies
medication

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 174 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Clinical Management of Migraine

by Maria Albanese

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(17), 5225; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11175225 - 04 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1258

Abstract

Migraine is one of the most frequent neurological and vascular disorders, with an estimated global prevalence of 14 [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

Research

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15 pages, 1414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Anti-CGRP mAbs on Migraineurs: Analysis of the First Year of Therapy, 1-Month Suspension Period, and Reprisal

by Yan Tereshko, Simone Dal Bello, Sara Pez, Enrico Belgrado, Christian Lettieri, Bruno Hector Ercole, Giulia Cellante, Caterina Del Regno, Giuseppe Sportelli, Giovanni Ermanis, Salvatore Versace, Giovanni Merlino, Gian Luigi Gigli and Mariarosaria Valente

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(23), 7329; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237329 - 26 Nov 2023

Viewed by 957

Abstract

Background: Few studies compare the clinical effectiveness of the three anti-CGRP mAbs. Moreover, no studies compare their efficacy during suspension and reprisal. Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of migraine frequency, intensity, and symptomatic medication intake during the first year of therapy, a 1-month suspension period, and a 3-month drug reprisal. Methods: A total of 160 migraineurs (chronic and high-frequency episodic) were treated with anti-CGRP mAbs (49 with fremanezumab, 55 with erenumab, and 55 with galcanezumab) for 12 months. They discontinued the therapy for 1 month and then reprised the therapy. In the three groups, we analyzed and compared the migraine days per month, migraine intensity, and symptomatic medication intake per month at baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. We also compared these variables during the 1-month suspension and 3 months after the reprisal of the therapy. We compared the data and evaluated the response rate (>50% reduction in migraine days per month) at different follow-ups. This comparison was also performed separately for chronic and high-frequency episodic migraineurs. Results: There was no statistical difference in monthly migraine days, intensity, or symptomatic medication intake per month at the different follow-ups. Moreover, there was no difference in the response rate overall. However, in chronic migraineurs treated with galcanezumab, the response rate was higher during the 1-month suspension when compared to fremanezumab and erenumab. In high-frequency episodic migraineurs, fremanezumab had a higher response rate at 12-month follow-up when compared to galcanezumab and erenumab. Conclusions: In our study, the three anti-CGRP mAbs presented a similar response, with no significant differences, during the first year of therapy, the suspension period, and 3 months after the drug reprisal. The response rate during the 1-month suspension period in chronic migraineurs may be higher with galcanezumab. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

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9 pages, 270 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Early Wearing-Off Effect of OnabotulinumtoxinA in Chronic Migraine: A Prospective Real-Life Study

by Joana Rodríguez-Montolio, María Pilar Navarro-Pérez, Monserrath Almeida-Zurita and Sonia Santos-Lasaosa

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(16), 5360; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12165360 - 17 Aug 2023

Viewed by 815

Abstract

Objective: Chronic migraine (CM) is a significant public health problem that affects 2.2% of the global population. Onabotulinumtoxin A (OnabotA) is a safe and effective prophylactic treatment for patients with CM. The standard injection interval for OnabotA is 12 weeks. Nevertheless, some patients experience a wearing-off effect (WOE) in the weeks preceding the next scheduled cycle. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of early WOE, to analyze variables that could be clinical predictors and to specify which interval is the most appropriate to define the existence of this phenomenon. Methods: This is a prospective single-center study of consecutive adult patients with CM who, after failing previous prophylactic therapies, started OnabotA treatment following the PREEMPT protocol between June and December of 2021. Results: A total of 59 patients (93.2% female, age 44 ± 12 years) were included. A total of 37 patients (64.9%) fulfilled medication overuse criteria. Of the total patients, 40.6% reported WOE and this was more frequent after the first cycle (35.6%). Depression and anxiety disorder was a statistically significant clinical predictor of WOE (OR 3.4; CI 95% 1.22–10.84; p = 0.028). A better cut-off point to consider WOE seems to be at 10 weeks. Conclusions: Early WOE is common in patients on OnabotA treatment for CM. Individualizing the standard 12-week injection, using total doses of 195 U, and managing psychiatric comorbidities with pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies may improve treatment outcomes and reduce OnabotA WOE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

16 pages, 4838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Erenumab and Possible CGRP Effect on Chronotype in Chronic Migraine: A Real-Life Study of 12 Months Treatment

by Laura Pilati, Angelo Torrente, Salvatore Di Marco, Salvatore Ferlisi, Giulia Notaro, Marika Romano, Paolo Alonge, Lavinia Vassallo, Ludovica Ferraù, Massimo Autunno, Rosario Grugno, Cecilia Camarda and Filippo Brighina

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(10), 3585; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12103585 - 21 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1469

Abstract

The introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), or its receptor (CGRPr), revolutionized migraine management due to their high efficacy and few side effects. Data suggest that the CGRP may even be implicated in circadian rhythm, but studies about the effect of anti-CGRP treatments on sleep are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of erenumab (70 and 140 mg per month), a human mAb directed against CGRPr, on chronotype in chronic migraineurs; secondly, we assessed its efficacy, safety, and the effects on anxiety and depression. Sleep was evaluated using self-administrable questionnaires investigating chronotype, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. Migraine diaries and several self-administrable questionnaires regarding headache impact and psychological correlates were evaluated every 3 months during 12 months of treatment. Eighty-eight patients were included; most of them showed a significant reduction in headache frequency and an improvement in psychological symptoms. Moreover, an initial change in chronotype was observed at the three-month assessment from a morning chronotype to an intermediate one; a similar trend remained in the other evaluations, even if it did not reach a statistical significance. Lastly, patients who responded to the treatment showed a progressive sleep efficiency reduction. The present real-life study hypothesized the influence of erenumab on chronotype, representing a link between circadian rhythm, CGRP, and migraine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

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11 pages, 1731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Migraine and Hormonal Contraception in Gynecological Outpatient Care—Cross-Sectional Study among Practicing Gynecologists in Germany

by Mira P. Fitzek, Elisabeth Storch, Lucas H. Overeem, Pia Kull, Maria Terhart, Kristin S. Lange, Uwe Reuter and Bianca Raffaelli

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(4), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12041434 - 10 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1505

Abstract

Hormonal contraception (HC) can influence the migraine burden and should be considered in the comprehensive management of women with migraine. In this study, we aim to investigate the influence of migraine and migraine aura on the prescribing behavior of combined oral contraception (COC) and progestogen monotherapy (PM) in gynecological outpatient care. From October 2021 to March 2022, we performed an observational, cross-sectional study using a self-administered online-based survey. The questionnaire was distributed by mail and e-mail among 11,834 practicing gynecologists in Germany using the publicly available contact information. A total of 851 gynecologists responded to the questionnaire, of whom 12% never prescribe COC in the presence of migraine. Further 75% prescribe COC depending on the presence of limiting factors such as cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities. When deciding to start PM, migraine appears to be less relevant, as 82% prescribe PM without restrictions. In the presence of aura, 90% of gynecologists do not prescribe COC at all, while PM is prescribed in 53% without restrictions. Almost all gynecologists reported to be actively involved in migraine therapy by having already initiated (80%), discontinued (96%), or changed (99%) HC due to migraine. Our results reveal that participating gynecologists actively consider migraine and migraine aura before and while prescribing HC. Gynecologists appear cautious in prescribing HC in patients with migraine aura. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

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12 pages, 991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neuropsychological and Neuropsychiatric Features of Chronic Migraine Patients during the Interictal Phase

by Elena Lozano-Soto, Álvaro Javier Cruz-Gómez, Raúl Rashid-López, Florencia Sanmartino, Raúl Espinosa-Rosso, Lucía Forero and Javier J. González-Rosa

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(2), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12020523 - 09 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1707

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the presence of neuropsychological deficits and their relationships with clinical, pharmacological, and neuropsychiatric characteristics in chronic migraine (CM) patients assessed during a headache-free period. We enrolled 39 CM patients (mean age: 45.4 years; male/female ratio: 3/36) and 20 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs, mean age: 45.5 years; male/female ratio: 2/18) in a case–control study. All CM patients underwent a full and extensive clinical, neuropsychiatric, and neuropsychological evaluation to evaluate cognitive domains, including sustained attention (SA), information processing speed (IPS), visuospatial episodic memory, working memory (WM), and verbal fluency (VF), as well as depressive and anxiety symptoms. CM patients exhibited higher scores than HCs for all clinical and neuropsychiatric measures, but no differences were found in personality characteristics. Although more than half of the CM patients (54%) showed mild-to-severe neuropsychological impairment (NI), with the most frequent impairments occurring in short- and long-term verbal episodic memory and inhibitory control (in approximately 90% of these patients), almost half of the patients (46%) showed no NI. Moreover, the severity of NI was positively associated with the number of pharmacological treatments received. Remarkably, disease-related symptom severity and headache-related disability explained global neuropsychological performance in CM patients. The presence of cognitive and neuropsychiatric dysfunction during the interictal phase occurred in more than half of CM patients, increasing migraine-related disability and possibly exerting a negative impact on health-related quality of life and treatment adherence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

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12 pages, 963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Izabela Domitrz and Dominik Golicki

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(23), 6925; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11236925 - 24 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1297

Abstract

Background: Migraine leads to moderate to severe disabilities and disrupts family life, interpersonal relationships, and professional life, and is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Many people with migraine suffer prolonged headaches and frequent migraine attacks, transition to having chronic migraine, and have the highest number of disability-adjusted life-years. The aim of this study is to measure the quality of life in migraineurs based on the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Methods: We assessed 100 consecutive patients diagnosed with migraine: 70 with episodic migraine and 30 with chronic migraine. Migraineurs were asked to complete the EQ-5D-5L. The control group (n = 100), matched for sex and age group, was created based on the results of the population norms study for the EQ-5D-5L in the general population of Poland. Results: Patients with migraine had worse HRQoL than the matched general population control group for all three primary endpoints of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire: dimensions, EQ-5D-5L Index and EQ VAS. Conclusions: Migraine is a disease that disrupts daily function, and as a lifelong disease, plays a role in every aspect of it. Proving a negative impact on many aspects helps to make decisions about treatment, especially in the context of the design and reimbursement of drugs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

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13 pages, 1925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modulation of Central Nociceptive Transmission by Manual Pressure Techniques in Patients with Migraine: An Observational Study

by Willem De Hertogh, Andreas Amons, Lise Van daele, Ellen Vanbaelen and René Castien

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(21), 6273; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11216273 - 25 Oct 2022

Viewed by 2559

Abstract

Background: Manual pressure in the upper cervical spine is used to provoke and reduce the familiar migraine headache. Information is scarce on the segmental levels, myofascial structure provocation, and reduction occurrences. The required dosage (amount of pressure, number of repetitions, and duration) has not been objectified yet. Methods: Prospective observational study. Thirty patients with migraine were examined interictally. Manual pressure was applied at four sites: the posterior arch of C1, the articular pillar of C2, the rectus capitis posterior major muscle, and the obliquus capitis inferior muscle, bilaterally. On sites where the familiar headache was provoked, the pressure was sustained to induce pain reduction (three repetitions). Provocation of familiar headache (yes/no), headache intensity (numerical pain rating scale), time to obtain a reduction of the headache (seconds), and applied pressure (g/cm²) were recorded. Results: Provocation of the familiar headache occurred at the posterior arches C1 in 92%, and at one of the articular pillars of C2 in 65.3% of cases. At one of the rectus capitis major muscles, the familiar headache was provoked in 84.6% of cases; at one of the oblique capitis inferior muscles, the familiar headache was provoked in 76.9% of cases. The applied mean pressure ranged from 0.82 to 1.2 kg/cm². Maintaining the pressure reduced headache pain intensity significantly between the start and end of each of the three consecutive trials (p < 0.04). This reduction occurred faster in the third application than in the first application (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Manual pressure at upper cervical segments provokes familiar referred migraine headaches, with low manual pressure. Maintaining the pressure reduces the referred head pain significantly, indicating modulation of central nociceptive transmission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

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Review

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15 pages, 320 KiB

Open AccessReview

Toxin Induced Parkinsonism and Hospitalization Related Adverse Outcome Mitigation for Parkinson’s Disease: A Comprehensive Review

by Kenneth R. Dalton, Charles J. Kidd and Nawaz Hack

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(3), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12031074 - 30 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1496

Abstract

Patients with Parkinson’s disease admitted to the hospital have unique presentations. This unique subset of patients requires a multidisciplinary approach with a knowledge-based care team that can demonstrate awareness of complications specific to Parkinson’s disease to reduce critical care admissions, morbidity, and mortality. Early recognition of toxic exposures, medication withdrawals, or medication-induced symptoms can reduce morbidity and mortality. This review can assist in the critical assessment of new or exacerbating Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

Other

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8 pages, 1364 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Long-Term Treatment with the Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptor Antagonist Erenumab in CADASIL: Two Case Reports

by Maria Albanese, Francesca Pescini, Chiara Di Bonaventura, Luigi Francesco Iannone, Silvia Bianchi, Anna Poggesi, Mario Bengala, Nicola Biagio Mercuri and Francesco De Cesaris

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(7), 1870; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13071870 - 24 Mar 2024

Viewed by 628

Abstract

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common monogenic form of cerebral small vessel disease, caused by a mutation in the NOTCH3 gene on chromosome 19. The main clinical features include migraine (often with aura), early onset, recurrent subcortical ischemic strokes, mood disturbances, and cognitive impairment, frequently leading to dementia and disability with a reduction in life expectancy. Cerebral chronic global hypoperfusion, due to impaired cerebrovascular reactivity, seems to play a primary role in CADASIL. Migraine is the most common early feature of the disease, and to date, there are no consensus guidelines for treatment. Given the vasomodulatory influence of many antimigraine drugs, there is concern about their use in this disease. In particular, the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system serves as a vasodilatory protective mechanism during cerebral and cardiac ischemia. Blocking this system could exacerbate ischemic events. Herein, we describe two CADASIL patients who were treated with the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist erenumab for chronic migraine, reporting a significant reduction in the frequency of attacks and intensity of pain, and an improvement in quality of life without adverse effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Migraine)

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