[Pathophysiological role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in migraine and cluster headache]

Effect of soy isoflavones supplementation on migraine characteristics, mental status and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels in women with migraine: results of randomised controlled trial

Background

Literature suggests a relationship between estrogen levels and migraine headache pathogenesis. However, the effect of soy isoflavones on migraine characteristic remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of soy isoflavones on migraine characteristics and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels in women with migraine.

Methods

Eighty-three participants completed a randomized double-blind controlled trial, receiving 50 mg per day soy isoflavones or placebo supplementation for 8 weeks. Migraine severity, migraine days per month, frequency and duration of attacks, mental status, quality of life and serum CGRP levels were measured at baseline and the end of the intervention. Bivariate comparison and intention-to-treat (ITT) were used for analysis.

Results

Soy isoflavones intake resulted in a significant decrease in mean frequency (-2.36 vs -0.43, P < 0.001), duration (-2.50 vs -0.02, P < 0.001) of migraine attacks and CGRP level (-12.18 ng/l vs -8.62, P = 0.002) in compared to placebo group. Also, a significant improvement was found in quality of life (16.76 vs 2.52, P < 0.001). Although, reduction in the migraine severity and mental status did not reach a statistically significant level (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

soy isoflavones supplementation may be considered as a complementary treatment for women with migraine to improve migraine characteristics and reduce the burden of disease.

Efficacy of Erenumab in the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Case Series

Objective

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic, often refractory, pain condition, which adversely affects the lives of patients. Current treatments are only mildly effective. Anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies have been successfully studied in the treatment of migraines. CGRP plays a role in both TN and migraine. It is prudent to attempt CGRP monoclonal antibody therapy in TN. Erenumab, a human anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody medication, modulates CGRP, which is elevated in patients with TN. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of erenumab for patients with TN.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was performed on data collected from 10 patients diagnosed with TN and treated with erenumab for 6 months. Pain was tracked using a numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) from 0 to 10. The effect of erenumab on NPRS after 6 months' time was the primary end point. Secondary end points included side effects to therapy, improvement in headache frequency in those with comorbid migraine, evaluating mood following therapy, and global mood improvement using scale (worse, no change, improved).

Results

Nine of 10 patients (90.0%) reported improvement in pain severity and in global mood improvement. Three patients reported resolution of anxiety and/or depression. Side effects were minimal, with 3 patients reporting constipation, injection site reactions, or both.

Conclusions

Based on these results, erenumab appears to be an efficacious treatment option for patients with refractory TN. Patients experienced improvement in pain, reduced frequency of headache, and improvement in mood. Treatment was well tolerated with only mild side effects reported.

Classification of Evidence

This study provides Class IV evidence that erenumab increases the probability of improved pain control in patients with medication-resistant TN.

Migraine with Brainstem Aura Accompanied by Disorders of Consciousness

Migraine with brainstem aura (MBA) accompanied by disorders of consciousness (DOC) is a rare subtype of migraine. The pathophysiology of MBA with DOC has not been elucidated yet. Some patients have a family history of migraine, and women are more affected than men. The aura symptoms are diverse; however, when MBA is combined with DOC, the clinical manifestations are more complicated. Coma is the most common clinical manifestation. The overall duration of the patient’s DOC is short and can often return to normal within half an hour. Headache often occurs after regaining consciousness and can also occur at the same time as DOC. The most common headache is located at the occipital region. Although DOC is reversible, considering the current small number of cases, we still need to improve our understanding of the disease to avoid misdiagnosis. The MBA patient’s electroencephalogram and cerebral blood flow perfusion may have transient changes and may return to normal in the interictal period or after the DOC. Although triptans have traditionally been contraindicated in MBA under drug instructions, the evidence of basilar artery constriction, as postulated in MBA, is lacking. Lasmiditan is currently the first and only 5-HT 1F receptor agonist approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists and monoclonal antibody therapies may be the most promising for future consideration. Here, the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic tools, and treatment progress for MBA with DOC are reviewed.