Management of primary headache in emergency services of Santos and surrounding towns

Is the Generally Held View That Intravenous Dihydroergotamine Is Effective in Migraine Based on Wrong "General Consensus" of One Trial? A Critical Review of the Trial and Subsequent Quotations

BACKGROUND

The claim that parenteral dihydroergotamine (DHE) is effective in migraine is based on one randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial from 1986. The aim of this review was to critically evaluate the original article. It was also found to be of interest to review quotes concerning the results in the more than 100 articles subsequently referring to the article.

METHODS

The correctness of the stated effect of intravenous DHE in the randomized clinical trial (RCT) was first critically evaluated. Then, Google Scholar was searched for references to the article and these references were classified as to whether they judged the reported RCT as positive or negative.

RESULTS

The design of the RCT, with a crossover within one migraine attack, only allows evaluation of the results for the first period and the effect of DHE and placebo were quite comparable. About 151 references were found for the article in Google scholar. Among the 95 articles with a judgment on the efficacy of intravenous DHE in the RCT, 90 stated that DHE was effective or likely effective whereas only 5 articles stated that DHE was ineffective.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a "negative" RCT, authors of subsequent articles on the efficacy of parenteral DHE overwhelmingly reported this RCT as "positive." This is probably due to the fact that the authors concluded in the abstract that DHE is effective, and to a kind of "wrong general consensus."

Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of acute primary headaches at an emergency center: why are we still neglecting the evidence?

In order to analyze the clinical features, approach and treatment of patients with acute primary headaches seen at the Clinics Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HC-UFU) throughout 2005, the medical charts of 109 patients were evaluated through a standardized questionnaire as to age, gender, main diagnosis, characteristics of the headache attacks, diagnostic tests and treatment. Probable migraine was the most common type of primary headache (47.7%), followed by probable tension-type headache (37.6%), unspecified headache (11.9%), and headache not elsewhere classified (2.8%). As to characteristics of the crisis, the location of the pain was described in 86.2% of the patients. The most commonly used drugs for treatment of acute headache attacks were dipyrone (74.5%), tenoxicam (31.8%), diazepam (20.9%), dimenhydrate (10.9%), and metochlopramide (9.9%). The data collected are in agreement with those reported in literature. In most cases, treatment was not what is recommended by consensus or clinical studies with appropriate methodology. Therefore, we suggest the introduction of a specific acute headache management protocol which could facilitate the diagnosis, treatment and management of these patients.

Comparação de dipirona intravenosa com metoclopramida intravenosa no tratamento de crise aguda de enxaqueca: ensaio clínico randomizado

INTRODUÇÃO: A enxaqueca é uma das doenças mais comuns da prática clínica. OBJETIVO: Comparar o efeito analgésico da dipirona com a metoclopramida no alívio da dor. MÉTODO: Conduzimos um estudo piloto randomizado comparando dipirona intravenosa com metoclopramida intravenosa em 27 pacientes apresentando crise de enxaqueca. O objetivo primário foi comparar a redução da intensidade da dor até 2 horas, assim como efeitos colaterais. RESULTADOS: Os grupos tinham faixas etárias semelhantes, mas diferença entre os sexos. Nos homens a metoclopramida reduziu a dor em 80,0% contra 55,0% da dipirona (p=0,052). Já nas mulheres houve uma redução de 65,0% com a metoclopramida e 71,2% com a dipirona (p=0,748). Esses resultados podem ter sido influenciados pelo reduzido número de pacientes no estudo. Não foram encontrados efeitos colaterais significativos. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve diferença quanto à redução da dor nem quanto ao surgimento de efeitos colaterais quando comparados dipirona com metoclopramida.