Identification of Allodynic Migraine Patients with the Turkish Version of the Allodynia Symptom Checklist: Reliability and Consistency Study

The effectiveness and predictors influencing the outcome of onabotulinumtoxinA treatment in chronic migraine: understanding from diverse patient profiles in a single session

Objective

This real-world study aimed to investigate how onabotulinumtoxinA affects the outcome of migraine, along with accompanying anxiety, depression, and bruxism among a group of patients with chronic migraine (CM) and define predictors of good response.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with CM who received onabotulinumtoxinA were included in this single-center, real-world retrospective cohort study. Monthly headache days (MHDs), monthly migraine days (MMDs), headache intensity (numeric rating scale-NRS) and headache characteristics were evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks post-treatment. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) included Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) scores, 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC-12), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Response to onabotulinumtoxinA (% reduction in MHDs) and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were also evaluated. OnabotulinumA was applied to the masseter muscles in patients complaining of bruxism.

Results

A total of 72 patients (mean ± SD age: 36.3 ± 8.5 years; 91.7% were female) diagnosed with CM were included. OnabotulinumtoxinA revealed significant decrease in median (IQR) MHDs [from 20(15-25) at baseline to 6(4-10), p < 0.001], MMDs [from 9(6-12) to 3(1-6), p < 0.001] and NRS [from 9(8-10) to 7(6-8), p < 0.001], and the MIDAS [from 54(30-81) to 16(7-24), p < 0.001], HIT-6 [from 67(65-69) to 58(54-64), p < 0.001], ASC-12 [from 6(1.5-9) to 2(0-9), p = 0.002], BAI [from 12(6.5-19) to 9(3-17), p < 0.001] and BDI [from 11(6.5-17) to 3(2-7) p < 0.001] scores at 12 weeks post-treatment. Patients complaining of bruxism received onabotulinumtoxinA injections in the first n = 27 (37.5%) and 12. week post-treatment n = 19 (70.4%) periods. Overall, 70.8% of patients responded (≥50% reduction in MHDs), while 29.2% did not (<50% reduction). Both groups showed similar characteristics in demographics, migraine history, baseline PROMs scores, comorbidities, and prior treatments.

Conclusion

OnabotulinumtoxinA is an effective treatment option that rapidly improves migraine outcomes, disability, and impact while also alleviating comorbid depression and/or anxiety. This study's noteworthy finding is that onabotulinumtoxinA is effective in a majority of CM patients, irrespective of their prior treatment history, migraine characteristics, or concurrent comorbidities. Furthermore, we identified no specific predictors for a favorable response to onabotulinumtoxinA. Applying onabotulinumtoxinA to the masseter muscles can relieve discomfort associated with concurrent bruxism; however, it does not impact migraine outcomes.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and measurement proprieties of the German version of the Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC-12)

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous allodynia is highly prevalent among migraineurs and is associated with a poor prognosis. The Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC-12) is a comprehensive questionnaire to identify the presence and severity of allodynia. Our aim was to translate and adapt the ASC-12 to German and evaluate its measurement properties.

METHODS

Following the COSMIN guidelines, 80 migraine patients were enrolled in the study to evaluate the stages of translation (n=30) and measurement propriety assessment (n=50), respectively. After reaching a final version, the German ASC-12 was assessed for structural validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity and absolute agreement, using mechanical and thermal pain thresholds as reference method.

RESULTS

The German version of the ASC-12 presented an adequate structural validity compatible with the original version of the questionnaire. Its internal consistency ranged from 0.70 to 0.80 considering the total score and the thermic, static and dynamic mechanic subdomains. The total score presented excellent reliability (ICC: 0.85) with a standard error of measurement of 1.15 points and smallest detectable change of 3.40 points. ASC-12 total scores were correlated with headache intensity (r=0.38, p=0.004), headache disability (r=0.37, p=0.004) and cold pain thresholds (r=0.28, p=0.025). The thermic allodynia ASC-12 scores were correlated with cold (r=0.36, p=0.005) and heat (r=-0.30, p=0.010) pain thresholds, while the static mechanical allodynia ASC-12 scores correlated with mechanical pain threshold (r=0.29, p=0.019) and with mechanical pain sensitivity (r=0.24 to 0.28, p< 0.045). Despite no significant bias between methods, quantitative sensory testing (QST) results and ASC-12 scores tend to disagree.

CONCLUSION

The German version of the ASC-12 is available for research and clinical settings and presented adequate measurement proprieties, as the original version. Despite the correlation between the ASC-12 and QST, one method cannot be replaced by the other.

Ultrasound-Guided Combined Greater Occipital Nerve Block at the C2 Level with Trapezius Trigger Point Injection and Supraorbital-Supratrochlear Nerve Block: More Effective on Allodynia and Disability in Chronic Migraine

Background

Chronic migraine (CM) patients with cutaneous allodynia (CA) show a poor response to treatment. Long-term studies have yet to be conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of blocks on CA. This study evaluated the improvement in allodynia and disability in CM treated with ultrasound (US)-guided blocks.

Methods

In this prospective, non-randomized comparative study, 60 CM patients with CA were evaluated for the clinical effectiveness of the therapy using the numeric rating scale (NRS), headache impact test-6 (HIT-6), brush allodynia test, and allodynia symptom checklist (ASC-12). At the first visit, tenderness in the nerve or trapezius muscle was confirmed in the intervention group. US-guided greater occipital nerve block (GONB), GONB, and trapezius muscle injection (TPI), or GONB, TPI, and peripheral trigeminal nerve block (PTNB), respectively, were performed four times once a week for a month. Initial and third-month assessments were performed.

Results

The ASC-12 scores decreased in the GONB+TPI+PTNB and GONB groups more than the GONB+TPI group (mean rank, respectively, 26.86, 27.40, 38.39; P = 0.018). The decrease in HIT-6 scores was greater in the GONB+TPI+PTNB group than in the GONB group (mean rank, respectively, 21.98, 39.95, P < 0.017) in the first month. In the third month, the GONB+TPI+PTNB group scored HIT-6 significantly lower than GONB and GONB+TPI (mean rank: 18.84, 38.73, 35.61; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

GONB+TPI+PTNB was more successful in alleviating allodynia and disability.

Clinical significance of osmophobia and its effect on quality of life in people with migraine

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of osmophobia and its effect on quality of life in people with migraine.

METHODS

A total of 145 people with migraine were included in this cross-sectional study. Patients were evaluated with the migraine data form, the Migraine 24-Hour Quality of Life Questionnaire (24-HrMQoLQ), the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC), and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). To evaluate the presence of osmophobia retrospectively, a semi-structured interview was conducted with the patients by the neurologist.

RESULTS

The mean 24-Hr-MQoLQ of patients with osmophobia was significantly lower than those without osmophobia. The decrease in the 24-Hr-MQoLQ was statistically significant in the areas of feeling and concerns and social functionality. The mean of the MIDAS scale was higher significantly in patients with osmophobia than those without osmophobia. In addition, the mean ISI, PHQ-9, FSS and ASC scores of patients with osmophobia were statistically significantly higher than those without osmophobia.

CONCLUSIONS

Both 24-h and 3-month quality of life of people with migraine with osmophobia were more affected than those without osmophobia. At the same manner, insomnia, depression, fatigue and allodynia were observed at higher rates in people with migraine with osmophobia than in migraine without osmophobia. Osmophobia, which is one of the specific symptoms that distinguishes migraine from other headache disorders, deserves further and multifaceted investigation.

The Adaptation of 12-Item Utah Photophobia Symptom Impact Scale (UPSIS-12) in Turkish, Internal Consistency, and Reproducibility

Introduction

The 12-item Utah Photophobia Symptom Impact Scale (UPSIS-12) is a questionnaire to assess the impact of photophobia on daily living during and outside migraine episodes. We aimed to translate UPSIS-12 and assess its usability in the Turkish cohort by analyzing internal consistency, reliability, and reproducibility.

Methods

In this multicenter prospective, descriptive study, 120 patients with migraine were recruited. The patients received the diagnosis of migraine without aura (MwoA) and migraine with aura (MwA) according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition. The scale was translated into Turkish, and the patients were evaluated by headache experts in two visits four weeks apart from each other.

Results

The questionnaire showed highly correlated test-retest reliability (r=0.828). Cronbach alpha values of internal consistency revealed good to excellent results ranging from 0.78-0.82. There was a strong and positive correlation between self and physician-administered scales at both visits (r=0.964 and 0.985, respectively). The questionnaire was considered "well understood" by 95.6% of the patients. The average UPSIS-12 score of each visit was 25.8 and 26.9 (average standard deviation of 10.4). Subjects with MwoA (25.5±10.4) had remarkably lower mean scores compared to MwoA plus MwA (29.2±8.9) and MwA (32.9±9.4) (p=0.0167). Patients with high frequency migraine presented with a higher mean UPSIS-12 score than those with low frequency (31.3±9.5 and 24.7±9.8, respectively). It was noted that the mean UPSIS-12 scores of those with severe (29.4±9.4) and moderate ictal cutaneous allodynia (CA) (28.4±10.6) were higher than those without CA (22.0±9.3)(p=0.020).

Conclusion

The Turkish version of the UPSIS-12 questionnaire is a reliable tool and well-understood by the Turkish population. Patients with MwA, frequent migraine headache days and moderate to severe CA presented with higher scores. Given the independent burden of photophobia in migraineurs, the use of UPSIS-12 scale should be encouraged in Turkish population.

Efficacy of Adding a Distal Level Block to a C2 Level Greater Occipital Nerve Block under Ultrasound Guidance in Chronic Migraine

Objective

To investigate the benefit of adding a distal level greater occipital nerve (GON) block to the proximal level GON block under ultrasound guidance in patients with chronic migraine (CM) with cutaneous allodynia (CA).

Methods

Seventy-eight patients with CM were included. A single US-guided GON block was performed at proximal and distal levels in patients with CM with CA and only at the proximal level in patients with CM without CA. Thirty (38.5%) patients with bilateral pain received bilateral GON blocks, and 48 (61.5%) with unilateral pain received unilateral GON blocks. The patients were evaluated using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores before treatment and 1 and 4 weeks after treatment and through Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) scores before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment.

Results

The NRS scores significantly decreased at first and fourth weeks, and the HIT-6 scores significantly decreased at fourth week (p < 0.001) compared with preintervention scores in all groups. No significant difference was found between the groups regarding the postinterventional first and fourth week when the decreases of NRS and HIT-6 scores were compared (p = 0.599). There were no significant differences in the effectiveness of unilateral and bilateral GON blocks (p > 0.001).

Conclusion

A single US-guided GON block is an effective and safe treatment option in patients with CM, providing a positive effect on pain and quality of life for 4 weeks. The addition of a distal level GON block to the proximal level GON block provides no extra benefit to patients with CM with CA.

An investigation of the relationship between cutaneous allodynia and kinesiophobia, gastrointestinal system symptom severity, physical activity and disability in individuals with migraine

Background

To investigate the relationship between cutaneous allodynia (CA) and kinesiophobia, gastrointestinal system (GIS) symptom severity, physical activity, and disability, and to determine whether CA, pain, and disability were influencing factors for kinesiophobia, GIS symptoms, and physical activity in individuals with migraine.

Methods

The study included 144 individuals with migraine. CA, kinesiophobia, GIS symptoms, physical activity level, and migraine-related disability were evaluated with the Allodynia Symptom Checklist, the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS), the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-7, and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), respectively.

Results

The CA severity was only associated with TKS (r = 0.515; P < 0.001), GSRS-total (r = 0.336; P < 0.001), GSRS-abdominal pain (r = 0.323; P < 0.001), GSRS-indigestion (r = 0.257; P = 0.002), GSRS-constipation (r = 0.371; P < 0.001), and MIDAS scores (r = 0.178; P = 0.033). Attack frequency (P = 0.015), attack duration (P = 0.035) and presence of CA (P < 0.001) were risk factors for kinesiophobia. Attack frequency (P = 0.027) and presence of CA (P = 0.004) were risk factors for GIS symptoms.

Conclusions

There was a relationship between the CA and kinesiophobia, GIS symptoms, and disability. CA and attack frequency were found to be risk factors for kinesiophobia and GIS symptoms. Migraine patients with CA should be assessed in terms of kinesiophobia, GIS, and disability. Lifestyle changes such as exercise and dietary changes and/or pharmacological treatment options for CA may increase success in migraine management.

Evaluation of temporomandibular joint disorder in headache patients

OBJECTIVE

The present study is aimed at determining the percentage of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) in patients admitted to the neurology outpatient clinic with a headache complaint and to evaluate the association of TMD with the presence of bruxism and headache traits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 349 headache patients were included in the study. The headache type, characteristics of the headache (incidence, duration, and severity of attacks), and the scores of the migraine disability scale (MIDAS) and Allodynia Symptom Scale (ASC-12T) were examined considering the presence of sleep bruxism. The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3 Beta) criteria were used for diagnosing headaches. The presence of TMD was evaluated by using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). All patients diagnosed with TMD and/or bruxism were evaluated by a dentist.

RESULTS

A total of 349 patients, 259 females and 90 males, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 36 years. Primary and secondary headaches were diagnosed in 317 (90.80%) and 32 (9.20%) patients, respectively. In the primary headache group, there were 227 migraines (182 females, 45 males), 74 tension-type headaches (TTH) (48 females, 26 males), and 15 trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) (7 females, 8 males) patients. The remaining patients were diagnosed with other types of diagnoses. The rate of patients with chronic headache was 86.50%. TMD was detected in 89 (25.50%) of the patients while sleep bruxism was present in 80 (23.30%) patients. TMD was detected in 68 (30.0%) migraine patients and 13 (17.60%) TTH patients. The rate of TMD was statistically significantly higher in migraine patients compared to the TTH patients (p=0.037).

CONCLUSION

Our cross-sectional outpatient-based study determined the incidence of TMD in headache patients as 25%. Among the primary headaches, the incidence of TMD was higher in migraine patients compared to the other diagnoses. Considering these data, the presence of TMD is a clinical condition that should be considered in the pathophysiology of headache, primarily migraine, and especially in cases of non-response to treatment.