A prospective study of headache and neuropeptides in patients with pituitary adenomas

Headache Improvement Following Endoscopic Resection of Pituitary Adenomas

BACKGROUND

Headache is a common symptom in patients with pituitary adenomas. Research on whether resection of pituitary adenomas via the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) affects headaches is limited, and the pathophysiology of headaches associated with pituitary adenomas remains unclear. This study aimed to determine if resection of pituitary adenomas via the EEA improves headaches and investigate factors that may be associated with headaches in patients with pituitary adenoma.

METHODS

A prospectively collected database of 122 patients undergoing resection of pituitary adenoma via the EEA was analyzed. Patient-reported headache severity was collected prospectively using the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) at preoperative baseline and 4 postoperative time points (3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months).

RESULTS

Adenoma size and subtype, cavernous sinus invasion, and hormonal status were not associated with preoperative headache burden. In patients with preoperative headaches (HIT-6 score >36), significant decreases in HIT-6 score were observed postoperatively at 6 weeks (5.5-point improvement, 95% CI 1.27-9.78, P < 0.01), 3 months (3.6-point improvement, 95% CI 0.01-7.18, P < 0.05), and 6 months (7.5-point improvement, 95% CI 3.43-11.46, P < 0.01). The only factor associated with headache improvement was cavernous sinus invasion (P = 0.003). Adenoma size and subtype and hormonal status were not associated with postoperative headache burden.

CONCLUSIONS

Resection via the EEA is associated with significant improvement in headache-related impact on patient functioning from ≥6 weeks after surgery. Patients with cavernous sinus invasion are more likely to experience improvement in headaches. The mechanism of headaches associated with pituitary adenoma still requires clarification.

Role of endocrine PACAP in age-related diseases

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a conserved neuropeptide, which confers diverse anti-aging endocrine and paracrine/autocrine effects, including anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. The results of the in vivo and in vitro experiments show that increasing emphasis is being placed on the diagnostic/prognostic biomarker potential of this neuropeptide in a wide array of age-related diseases. After the initial findings regarding the presence and alteration of PACAP in different body fluids in physiological processes, an increasing number of studies have focused on the changes of its levels in various pathological conditions associated with advanced aging. Until 2016 - when the results of previous human studies were reviewed - a vast majority of the studies had dealt with age-related neurological diseases, like cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, multiple sclerosis, as well as some other common diseases in elderly such as migraine, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic hepatitis and nephrotic syndrome. The aim of this review is to summarize the old and the new results and highlight those 'classical' and emerging clinical fields in which PACAP may become subject to further investigation as a diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker in age-related diseases.

Headache Before and After Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Pituitary Tumor Surgery: A Prospective Study

Objective Headache is a common symptom among patients with pituitary tumors, as it is in the general population. The aim of the study was to investigate headache as a symptom in patients with pituitary tumors before and 6 months after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (TSS).

Design This is a prospective observational cohort study.

Setting This study was conducted at university tertiary referral hospital.

Participants A total of 110 adult patients underwent endoscopic TSS for pituitary tumors.

Main Outcome Measures The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire was used before and 6 months after surgery for the assessment of headache. Clinical variables with potential influence on headache were analyzed.

Results Sixty-eight (62%) patients experienced headaches at least once during the 3 months before surgery. Thirty (27%) patients reported disabling headache before surgery, with younger age being an independent associated factor (p < 0.001). In patients with disabling headache before surgery, the median (interquartile range) MIDAS score improved from 78 (27–168) to 16 (2–145; p = 0.049), headache frequency decreased from 45 (20–81) to 14 (4–35) days (p = 0.009), and headache intensity decreased from 6 (5–8) to 5 (4–7) (p = 0.011) after surgery. In total, 16 of the 30 (53%) patients reported a clinically relevant improvement and five (17%) a clinically relevant worsening. Four (5%) patients developed new disabling headache. No predictor for postoperative improvement of headache was identified.

Conclusion In this prospective study, the results show that disabling headache improves following endoscopic TSS in a subset of patients with pituitary tumors. However, no predictive factors for improvement could be identified.

Characteristics of pain in patients with pituitary adenomas: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study determines the prevalence and particularities of headache and pain with neuropathic characteristics (NC) in a large French group of patients with pituitary adenoma (PA).

METHODS

Analysis of validated self-administered questionnaires, radiological characteristics and treatment strategies of PA was performed.

RESULTS

Of the 221 sent questionnaires, 146 could be used for statistical analysis, 50% of which were completed by women. Among responders, 58.9% had pain: 30.1% migraine, 15.7% pain with NC and 13.1% other types of pain. Migraine was more common in patients with PA than in the general population (30.1% vs. 21.3%, p = .010) and attacks received appropriate treatment for less than 20% of these patients. Furthermore, the prevalence of chronic migraine was much higher than in the general population (6.8% vs. 2.2%, p = .003). Neuropathic pain was also more frequent in PA patients than in the general population (15.8% vs. 6.9%, p < .001). Neuropathic pain was most often located in the extremities and was frequently described as an 'electric shock', 'numbness', or 'pins-and-needles'. Multivariate analyses linked migraine to younger age, anxiety, pain with NC, and a visible tumour on MRI, regardless of its invasiveness or secretory nature.

CONCLUSIONS

Migraine headaches and neuropathic pain are more frequent and disabling in PA patients than in the general population. Both types of pain are comorbid in PA patients and are poorly treated. Migraine is associated with the presence of a tumour. Thus, biological mechanisms of this relationship need to be characterized to design optimal treatments for these individuals.

SIGNIFICANCE

Migraine headaches and neuropathic pain are more common in PA patients than in the general population and are generally poorly treated. A systematic screening for migraine should be done by physicians in daily practice to provide adequate therapeutics.