scholarly journals 027 Will refractory patients respond to erenumab in the real world?

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (e7) ◽  
pp. A10.1-A10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronwyn Jenkins ◽  
Shuli Cheng ◽  
Elspeth Hutton

IntroductionErenumab has been studied in Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT), with stricter exclusion criteria than real world populations.Methods65 patients from two Australian headache centres on Erenumab had primary outcomes of ≥ 50% response in monthly migraine days (MMD) and monthly headache days (MHD), compared to their demographics, frequency, duration of Chronic Migraine (CM), failed prophylactic medications, severity scores and medication overuse headache (MOH).Results35% (23/65) had daily headaches, with ≥ 50% MHD and MMD reduction in this subgroup of 17% (4/23) and 65% (13/20), respectively. Duration of CM was >10 years in 48% (29/61), with ≥ 50% MHD and MMD reduction in 28% (8/29) and 48% (13/27), respectively. 100% (64/64) had failed > 3 prophylactic medications with ≥50% MHD and MMD reduction in 30% (19/64) and 47% (27/58), respectively, with reducing rates of ≥ 50%MMD reduction if >5 (29%; 17/58) and >10 (22%;2/9). 95% had high severity scores (HIT-6 score >60), with a ≥ 50% MMD reduction in 43% (23/54). MOH occurred in 41% (24/58) for triptan and 29% (17/58) for codeine medications, with a ≥ 50% MMD reduction in 71% (17/24) and 41% (7/17), respectively (all groups p>0.05).ConclusionThis real world cohort treated with Erenumab included patients that would be excluded from RCT analysis- including more chronic, frequent, severe and refractory migraine. Despite this, there were still ≥50% responders in more severe subgroups, particularly daily headache, high severity scores and triptan MOH. Measuring MMD may be more sensitive for assessing improvement than MHD.

Cephalalgia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 589-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Relja ◽  
A Granato ◽  
A Bratina ◽  
RM Antonello ◽  
M Zorzon

One hundred and one patients suffering from chronic daily headache (CDH) and medication overuse were treated, in an in-patient setting, with abrupt discontinuation of the medication overused, intravenous hydrating, and intravenous administration of benzodiazepines and ademetionine. The mean time to CDH resolution was 8.8 days. The in-patient withdrawal protocol used was effective, safe and well tolerated. There was a trend for a shorter time to CDH resolution in patients who overused triptans ( P = 0.062). There was no correlation between time to CDH resolution and either the type of initial primary headache or duration of medication abuse, whereas time to CDH resolution was related to daily drug intake ( P = 0.01). In multiple regression analysis, daily drug intake, age and type of medication overused were independent predictors of time to CDH resolution. At 3-months' follow-up, no patient had relapsed and was again overusing symptomatic medications.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myoung-Jin Cha ◽  
Heui-Soo Moon ◽  
Jong-Hee Sohn ◽  
Byung-Su Kim ◽  
Tae-Jin Song ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Robbins

This comprehensive review addresses the many challenges in treating refractory migraine. Issues relating to pathophysiology are covered. A unique “refractory scale for migraine patients” is introduced. The definition and role of medication overuse headache are presented with a much different perspective than is usually found. Issues outside of medication that are covered include active coping, acceptance, resilience, and catastrophizing. A number of outpatient treatments are thoroughly discussed. These include the role of onabotulinum toxin, the application of polypharmacy, when to employ sphenopalatine ganglion  blocks, the role of occipital and trigger-point injections, the implementation of long-acting opioids, the advantages of stimulants, and the possible use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Miscellaneous approaches include muscle relaxants, nasal or intravenous ketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation, memantine, and ergonovine. Finally, many cutting-edge “refractory clinical pearls” are listed.  This review contains 8 highly rendered figures, 4 tables, and 25 references. Key Words: Headache, migraine, chronic, refractory, medication overuse, alternative, treatments


Cephalalgia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 855-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
MG Bøe ◽  
R Salvesen ◽  
Å Mygland

Several studies have shown the benefit of withdrawal therapy when medication overuse headache (MOH) is suspected. Our aim was to compare the effect of withdrawal therapy in patients followed by a neurologist (group A, n = 42) and a primary care physician (PCP) (group B, n = 38). Patients were randomized to A or B, and follow-up was at 3, 6 and 12 months. Calculated mean headache (MH at 6 months + MH at 12 months)/2 (primary end-point) was similar; A 1.04 (0.87, 1.21) and B 1.02 (0.82, 1.21) ( P = 0.87). The number of patients with 50% improvement of headache days was also similar; 14/42 in group A vs. 12/34 in B ( P = 0.86) at 3 months, 15/42 vs. 11/33 ( P = 0.83) at 6 months and 15/42 vs. 14/38 ( P = 0.92) at 12 months. Days without headache during the last 9 months of follow-up were 123 (96, 150) in group A and 137 (112, 161) in B ( P = 0.62). After 3 months one-third were classified as MOH. Patients with MOH improved similarly in group A and B, and so did patients without MOH. Within 1 year 7/42 in A and 9/38 in B had recurrent medication overuse ( P = 0.43). In summary, there were no significant differences in follow-up results between the two groups.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Scheffler ◽  
Olga Messel ◽  
Sebastian Wurthmann ◽  
Michael Nsaka ◽  
Christoph Kleinschnitz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAB) are the first specific migraine prophylactic medication. Erenumab is the only CGRP mAB targeting the CGRP receptor. Clinical data regarding efficacy and tolerability of erenumab in highly therapy-refractory patients are not available, yet, although many patients treated with CGRP mAB under real world conditions can be considered as highly therapy-refractory.Methods: Clinical routine data of highly therapy-refractory migraine patients treated with erenumab 70mg for three months between November 2018 and December 2019 in the West German Headache Center, University Hospital Essen, Germany, were analysed. Monthly migraine days (MMD), monthly headache days (MHD) and days of acute medication intake (AMD) were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test. Descriptive statistics were performed to evaluate changes of vegetative symptoms, acute medication response, side effects, as well as treatment satisfaction.Results: Complete clinical data were available for 26 episodic (EM) and 74 chronic (CM) migraineurs. Sixty-six % (n=49) of CM patients had an additional medication overuse headache (MOH). After three months 57.7 % of EM patients and 41.9 % of CM patients had a 50% or greater reduction of MMD. The mean number of MMD was reduced by 3.43 (SE 1.26) in EM, and by 4.72 (SE 0.87) in CM. Thirty-nine patients (52.7%) returned from chronic to episodic course of migraine. After three months, 23 patients (46.9%) were not suffering from a MOH anymore.Conclusions: Erenumab seems to be a promising therapeutic option in highly therapy-refractory migraine patients.Trial registration: Retrospective registered.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Scheffler ◽  
Olga Messel ◽  
Sebastian Wurthmann ◽  
Michael Nsaka ◽  
Christoph Kleinschnitz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAB) are the first specific migraine prophylactic medication. Erenumab is the only CGRP mAB targeting the CGRP receptor. Clinical data regarding efficacy and tolerability of erenumab in highly therapy-refractory patients are not available, yet, although many patients treated with CGRP mAB under real world conditions can be considered as highly therapy-refractory. Methods Clinical routine data of highly therapy-refractory migraine patients treated with erenumab 70mg for three months between November 2018 and December 2019 in the West German Headache Center, University Hospital Essen, Germany, were analysed. Monthly migraine days (MMD), monthly headache days (MHD) and days of acute medication intake (AMD) were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test. Descriptive statistics were performed to evaluate changes of vegetative symptoms, acute medication response, side effects, as well as treatment satisfaction. Results Complete clinical data were available for 26 episodic (EM) and 74 chronic (CM) migraineurs. Sixty-six % (n=49) of CM patients had an additional medication overuse headache (MOH). After three months 57.7% of EM patients and 41.9% of CM patients had a 50% or greater reduction of MMD. The mean number of MMD was reduced by 3.43 (SE 1.26) in EM, and by 4.72 (SE 0.87) in CM. Thirty-nine patients (52.7%) returned from chronic to episodic course of migraine. After three months, 23 patients (46.9%) were not suffering from a MOH anymore. Conclusions Erenumab seems to be a promising therapeutic option in highly therapy-refractory migraine patients.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun-Young Oh ◽  
Jin-Ju Kang ◽  
Hong-Kyun Park ◽  
Soo-Jin Cho ◽  
Min Kyung Chu

Abstract Background Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a growing problem worldwide and is defined as daily or near-daily headache in patients with a primary headache disorder who overuse acute medications. There is debate about whether there are differences in the clinical features and risks of MOH induced by different drugs. Here we investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with MOH following overuse of different acute headache drugs such as triptans and other medications.Methods A multicenter cross-sectional observation study, REgistry for Load and Management of MEdicAtion OveruSE Headache (RELEASE), prospectively collected demographic and clinical data from 114 consecutive patients with MOH according to the International Headache Society criteria between May 2020 and January 2021. We calculated the mean duration until onset of MOH from chronic daily headache (MDMOH), mean monthly frequency of severe headache (MMFSH), mean monthly frequency of seeking medical services (MMFMedS), and mean monthly intake frequency (MMIF) as well as headache impact and neuropsychological tests in patients with MOH after overuse of acute headache drugs.Results A total of 105 eligible MOH patients was included in this study. The patients showed overuse of triptans (31/105, 29.5%), ergotamines (8/105, 7.6%), simple or combination analgesics (37/105, 35.2%), opioids (1/105, 0.9%), and combination of two of more drugs (28/105, 26.7%). The MDMOH was significantly longer for the analgesics group (10.6 years) than the ergotamines (4.1 years), triptans (4.3 years), or multiple drugs group (4.8 years) (p = 0.011, Kruskal–Wallis test). The MMFMedS was lower for the analgesics group (0.37 days per month) than the multiple drugs (0.85 days) or triptans (0.58 days) group (p = 0.008, Kruskal–Wallis test). The MMFSH was significantly lower in the triptans group (7.4 days per month) than in the analgesics (14.4 days) or multiple drugs group (13.7 days) (p = 0.005, Kruskal–Wallis test). The MMIF was higher in the multiple drugs group (25 days per month) than the triptans (18.1 days) or analgesics (19.5 days) group (p = 0.007, Kruskal–Wallis test).Conclusion Data from this prospective multicenter study suggest that the clinical characteristics of MOH depend on the type of overused symptomatic headache medications.


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