Improving Acute Treatment of Pediatric Primary Headache Disorders With a Novel Headache Treatment Center: Retrospective Review of Preliminary Outcomes

Headache in Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

This article reviews the assessment of children and adolescents presenting with headache, provides an overview of primary headache disorders, and reviews evidence-based management of headache in this age group.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

In the last few years, new epidemiological data have shed light on less common pediatric headache disorders (eg, pediatric trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias) and psychosocial risk factors associated with primary headache disorders in children and adolescents. There has also recently been a substantial increase in interventions that target the calcitonin gene-related peptide pathway and that treat primary headache disorders using noninvasive neuromodulation. Although these interventions have primarily been studied in adults, there is emerging evidence of their use in the pediatric population.

ESSENTIAL POINTS

Primary headache disorders are very common in youth, and the most commonly encountered headache diagnosis in neurology practice is migraine, which affects approximately 10% of children and adolescents. Diagnosing and effectively treating primary headache disorders before adulthood may have a sustained impact on the patient by improving long-term headache and mental health outcomes, thereby significantly reducing the burden of disability over time. There are several available and emerging acute and preventive interventions for youth with primary headache disorders, and treatment decisions should be made in the context of available evidence using a shared decision-making approach.

Beyond the Guidelines: A Narrative Review of Treatments on the Horizon for Migraine in Children and Adolescents

Migraine is common in children and adolescents and can cause significant disability. There are relatively limited evidence-based treatment options available, especially when compared with treatment of migraine in adults. The Pediatric Research Equity Act requires the study of a new drug or biologic in pediatric populations. As such it is mandatory that the newest migraine treatment options available for adults be evaluated in children and adolescents. It will take years before results from clinical trials in pediatric patients become available. In the meantime, there is eagerness among clinicians to seek out the existing evidence that may help provide clarity on utilization of the newer migraine therapies in children and adolescents because many of the currently available, guideline-recommended treatments do not provide benefit for all patients. In this narrative review, the literature regarding onabotulinumtoxinA, neuromodulatory devices, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies, 5-hydroxytryptamine (1F) agonists (i.e., ditans), and CGRP small-molecule receptor antagonists (i.e., gepants) for the treatment of migraine in children and adolescents will be summarized.

Advances in the Acute and Preventive Treatment of Pediatric Migraine

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Headaches are common in children and adolescents. Treatments for debilitating migraine are often not FDA approved or lack evidence of efficacy for children. This narrative review looks at the evidence for acute and preventative pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment of pediatric migraine, as well as reviewing any recent or ongoing clinical trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

Studies have been published on pharmacological treatments for headache, as well as non-pharmacological treatments. Recent findings in pediatric migraine using onabotulinumtoxinA, calcitonin gene related peptide antagonists, interventional procedures, and devices are reviewed. Pharmacologic as well as non-pharmacologic approaches for the prevention and treatment of migraine show safety and efficacy data that is promising. These treatments should be incorporated in a multi-modal approach to the management of pediatric migraine. Continued studies, prospective and randomized, are needed to further assess these newer treatments for migraine in the pediatric setting.

Treatment of Frequent or Chronic Primary Headaches in Children and Adolescents: Focus on Acupuncture

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture is a spreading and promising intervention, which has proven to be very useful in the treatment and prevention of chronic pain, in particular chronic headaches, in adults; the literature about the treatment of pediatric chronic headaches is scarce. In addition, few guidelines advise its use in children. The aim of this review is to collect all relevant studies with available data about the use, effect, and tolerability of acupuncture as a treatment for pediatric primary headaches.

METHODS

This is a narrative review based on eight studies selected from 135 papers including pediatric cases treated with acupuncture for headache.

RESULTS

Despite the differences in tools, procedures, and application sites, acupuncture demonstrated a positive effect on both the frequency and intensity of headaches and was well tolerated. There are no studies considering the long-term efficacy of acupuncture.

CONCLUSION

Further additional studies are needed on acupuncture in children and adolescents, with larger series and standardized procedures, in order to better assess efficacy, tolerability, and long-term prognosis and to define guidelines for the use of this promising and safe treatment. It is particularly relevant to identify safe and well-tolerated treatment options in pediatric patients affected by recurrent and debilitating headaches.

Outpatient Approach to Resistant and Refractory Migraine in Children and Adolescents: a Narrative Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Migraine is one of the top reasons for consulting a pediatric neurologist. Although the majority of children and adolescents who receive evidence-based first-line interventions for migraine will improve substantially, a subset of patients develop resistant or refractory migraine.

RECENT FINDINGS

In this review, we summarize the level of evidence for a variety of acute and preventive treatment options to consider in children and adolescents with resistant or refractory migraine. We describe the level of evidence for interventional procedures (onabotulinumtoxinA injections, greater occipital and other nerve blocks), neuromodulation (single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation, external trigeminal nerve stimulation, remote electrical neuromodulation, and non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway antagonists (anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies and gepants), psychological therapies, and manual therapies (acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, massage and physical therapy, and spinal manipulation).

Development and Evaluation of an Integrated Outpatient Infusion Care Model for the Treatment of Pediatric Headache

BACKGROUND

Care for pediatric patients with headache often occurs in high-cost settings such as emergency departments (EDs) and inpatient settings. Outpatient infusion centers have the potential to reduce care costs for pediatric headache management.

METHODS

In this quality improvement study, we describe our experience in creating the capacity to support an integrated outpatient pediatric headache infusion care model through an infusion center. We compare costs of receiving headache treatment in this model with those in the emergency and inpatient settings. Because dihydroergotamine (DHE) is a costly infusion, encounters at which DHE was administered were analyzed separately. We track the number of ED visits and inpatient admissions for headache using run charts. As a balancing measure, we compare treatment efficacy between the infusion care model and the inpatient setting.

RESULTS

The mean percentage increase in cost of receiving headache treatment in the inpatient setting with DHE was 61% (confidence interval [CI]: 30-99%), and that without DHE was 582% (CI: 299-1068%) compared with receiving equivalent treatments in the infusion center. The mean percentage increase in cost of receiving headache treatment in the ED was 30% (CI: -15 to 100%) compared with equivalent treatment in the infusion center. After the intervention, ED visits and inpatient admissions for headache decreased. The mean change in head pain was similar across care settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that developing an integrated ambulatory care model with infusion capacity for refractory pediatric headache is feasible, and our early outcomes suggest this may have a favorable impact on the overall value of care for this population.