Menstrual Headache in Women with Chronic Migraine Treated with Erenumab: An Observational Case Series

Effectiveness of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies and onabotulinumtoxinA in menstrually-related migraine: The unmet need of perimenstrual headache days

BackgroundData on the effectiveness of preventive treatments on menstrually-related migraine (MRM) is scarce. Our objective was to analyze the efficacy of anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (anti-CGRP mAbs) and onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX-A) in the reduction of perimenstrual headache days (PHD) and perimenstrual migraine days (PMD) compared to non-perimenstrual headache days (non-PHD) and non-perimenstrual migraine days (non-PMD) per month in women with MRM.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted including females with menstruation and headache records, treated with either anti-CGRP mAbs or BTX-A. Patients completed e-Diary one month before and three months after preventive treatment. We collected clinical data and analyzed PHD/PMD and non-PHD/non-PMD before and after treatment. Additional analyses included PHD/PMD and non-PHD/non-PMD comparisons grouped by aura, episodic/chronic migraine, treatment and contraceptive intake.ResultsWe analyzed data from 113 females with a median (range) age of 39.0 (33.0-45.0) years. When combining patients treated with anti-CGRP mAbs or BTX-A, a median (range) of 2.0 (2.0-3.0) PHD/month (corresponding to 13.6% baseline monthly headache days (MHD)) and 13.0 (9.0-17.0) non-PHD/month pre-treatment was observed. From these, 2.0 (1.0-3.0) were PMD/month, and 7.0 (4.0-11.0) were non-PMD/month. After treatment, the median PHD/month was 2.0 (1.0-3.0) (corresponding to 16.67% of MHD) (p = 0.085), and 8.0 (5.0-13.0) were non-PHD/month (p < 0.001); from these, 1.0 (0.0-3.0) were PMD/month (proportion difference, p = 0.035) and 4.0 (2.0-7.0) were non-PMD (proportion difference, p < 0.001). When analyzing grouped by treatment, only patients treated with anti-CGRP experienced a reduction in PMD. No statistically significant differences in clinical factors (aura, migraine diagnosis, contraceptive intake) between PHD/non-PHD or PMD/non-PMD, either pre- or post-treatment. A higher probability risk of headache and migraine during the perimenstrual window was observed independently of the treatment received (odds ratio = 1.637, 95% confidence interval = 1.356-1.984, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThree-month treatment with anti-CGRP mAbs or BTX-A effectively reduced non-PHD and non-PMD but had limited effect on PHD/PMD because headache probability risk was higher during the perimenstrual window after treatment.

Evaluation of the effects of menstrual headaches on health-related quality of life in young women: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

This study aims to determine the effects of menstrual headaches on quality of life in young women. It also determines the frequency and examines variables associated with menstrual headaches.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to April 2022 among 984 young women aged 18-28. The SF-36 Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire was used for assessment, and data were analysed using IBM SPSS 20.0. Sociodemographic factors, menstrual characteristics, and lifestyle habits were included as variables.

RESULTS

Menstrual headaches were reported by 35.6% (n = 318) of participants. These headaches were significantly associated with disrupted family structures, shorter menstrual cycles, dysmenorrhoea, smoking, cola-containing drink consumption, medication-dependent chronic diseases, and early menarche. Women with menstrual headaches had lower median scores across all SF-36 subscales compared to those without. This study also found that delayed-onset menstrual headaches are more common than early-onset menstrual headaches in women.

CONCLUSION

Menstrual headaches adversely affect health-related quality of life in women. The prevalence and severity of these risk factors can be reduced by modifying lifestyles and implementing targeted interventions. A healthcare provider plays a critical role in helping women learn self-management strategies to alleviate menstrual headaches' adverse effects.

Developments in targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide

INTRODUCTION

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP)-targeted therapy has revolutionized migraine treatment since its first approval in 2018. CGRP-targeted therapy includes monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and gepants, which modulate trigeminal nociceptive and inflammatory responses, alleviating pain sensitization involved in migraine pathogenesis. CGRP-targeted therapy is effective not only for migraine but also for other chronic headache disorders that share the CGRP pathway.

AREAS COVERED

The authors review the latest developments and evidence for CGRP-targeted therapy for episodic migraine and chronic migraine. In addition, the authors discuss the emerging evidence on response prediction, menstrual migraine, vestibular migraine, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, post-traumatic headache, and the relationship between selected migraine comorbidities and CGRP.

EXPERT OPINION

Since the launch of CGRP-targeted therapy, many practical issues have been raised. Generally, it's safe to combine CGRP-targeted mAbs and gepants; this is an excellent option for patients with partial response. When considering stopping CGRP-targeted therapy, although a disease-modifying effect is likely, the optimal time for discontinuation remains unknown. Finally, beyond migraine, CGRP-targeted therapy may be used for other chronic pain disorders and psychological comorbidities.

Menstrually associated migraine

Menstrually related migraine is a disabling condition affecting 35% to 54% females with migraine during their fertile years. The International Headache Classification distinguishes menstrually related migraine from pure menstrual migraine based on the occurrence of the attacks even outside the perimenstrual periods. Hormonal fluctuations are the main driver for the disease in subjects with genetic susceptibility and alterations of brain structures and connectivity. Menstrually related attacks are often particularly severe and disabling requiring proper management. Acute treatment mainly consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), recommended in patients also suffering from dysmenorrhea, and triptans. Prevention is specifically indicated in women with high monthly headache frequency or burdensome attacks during perimenstrual periods. Trials proved the efficacy of short-term prevention with triptans and NSAIDs but did not evaluate possible long-term effectiveness and tolerability. Evidence of prevention using hormonal treatments is poor, but extended-cycle treatments might be suitable for women requiring hormonal replacement for concomitant conditions. Few data are available on treatments targeting CGRP, among whom gepants are the most promising because of their utility both in migraine acute and preventive treatment. A greater recognition of disease and a deep knowledge of patients' comorbidities are essential to its proper management.

A Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis of Anti-CGRP Monoclonal Antibodies: Predicting Response

Calcitonin gene-related peptide-targeted monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) are increasingly being used as preventive treatments for migraine. Their effectiveness and safety were established through numerous randomized placebo-controlled trials and real-world studies, yet a significant proportion of patients do not respond to this treatment, and currently, there is a lack of accepted predictors of response to guide expectations, as data from studies so far are lacking and inconsistent. We searched Embase and MEDLINE databases for studies reporting on predictors of response to CGRP and/or CGRP-receptor (CGRP-R) mAbs, defined as a 30% or 50% reduction in monthly headache or migraine days at varying durations of follow-up. Quantitative synthesis was performed where applicable. We found 38 real-world studies that investigated the association between various predictors and response rates. Based on these studies, good response to triptans and unilateral pain with or without unilateral autonomic symptoms are predictors of a good response to CGRP(-R) mAbs. Conversely, obesity, interictal allodynia, the presence of daily headaches, a higher number of non-successful previous prophylactic medications, and psychiatric comorbidities including depression are predictive of a poor response to CGRP(-R) mAbs. Future studies should confirm these results and help to generate more tailored treatment strategies in patients with migraine.

Sex Hormones and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Women With Migraine: A Cross-sectional, Matched Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Sex hormones may modulate calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release in the trigeminovascular system. We studied CGRP concentrations in plasma and tear fluid in female participants with episodic migraine (EM) and a regular menstrual cycle (RMC), female participants with EM and combined oral contraception (COC), and female participants with EM in the postmenopause. For control, we analyzed 3 corresponding groups of age-matched female participants without EM.

METHODS

Participants with an RMC had 2 visits: during menstruation on menstrual cycle day 2 ± 2 and in the periovulatory period on day 13 ± 2. Participants with COC were examined at day 4 ± 2 of the hormone-free interval (HFI) and between days 7 and 14 of hormone intake (HI). Postmenopausal participants were assessed once at a random time point. Plasma and tear fluid samples were collected at each visit for determination of CGRP levels with an ELISA.

RESULTS

A total of 180 female participants (n = 30 per group) completed the study. Participants with migraine and an RMC showed statistically significantly higher CGRP concentrations in plasma and tear fluid during menstruation compared with female participants without migraine (plasma: 5.95 pg/mL [IQR 4.37-10.44] vs 4.61 pg/mL [IQR 2.83-6.92], p = 0.020 [Mann-Whitney U test]; tear fluid: 1.20 ng/mL [IQR 0.36-2.52] vs 0.4 ng/mL [IQR 0.14-1.22], p = 0.005 [Mann-Whitney U test]). In contrast, female participants with COC and in the postmenopause had similar CGRP levels in the migraine and the control groups. In migraine participants with an RMC, tear fluid but not plasma CGRP concentrations during menstruation were statistically significantly higher compared with migraine participants under COC (p = 0.015 vs HFI and p = 0.029 vs HI, Mann-Whitney U test).

DISCUSSION

Different sex hormone profiles may influence CGRP concentrations in people, with current or past capacity to menstruate, with migraine. Measurement of CGRP in tear fluid was feasible and warrants further investigation.

Erenumab efficacy in migraine headache prophylaxis: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aims to show the efficiency of Erenumab in the preventive therapy of episodic and chronic migraine, which is still under research.

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a chronic neurovascular disorder that causes disability and a social burden. There are various medications used for migraine prevention regimens, most of which have unwanted side effects and aren't often quite effective. Erenumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors and was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for migraine prevention.

METHODS

For this systematic review, we searched through Scopus and PubMed databases using "Erenumab" or "AMG 334" and "migraine" as keywords, and all the studies from 2016 to March 18, 2022, were included. Original English articles assessing any outcomes referring to the efficacy of Erenumab in migraine headache treatment were included in this study.

RESULTS

We found 53 out of 605 papers eligible to be investigated. Erenumab in both dosages of 70 mg and 140 mg could decrease the mean of monthly migraine days and monthly acute migraine-specific medication days. Erenumab also has a higher rate of ≥ 50 %, ≥ 75 %, and 100 % reduction in monthly migraine days from the baseline in different regions. The efficacy of Erenumab was initiated in the first week of administration and sustained throughout and after treatment. Erenumab was also potent in the treatment of migraine with allodynia, aura, prior preventive therapy failure, medication overuse headache, and menstrual migraine. Erenumab also had favorable outcomes in combination therapy with other preventive drugs like Onabotulinumtoxin-A.

CONCLUSION

Erenumab had remarkable efficacy in the short and long-term treatment of episodic and chronic migraine, notably the patients with difficult-to-treat migraine headaches.

Monoclonal Antibodies against Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide for Migraine Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review of Real-World Data

OBJECTIVE

To perform a systematic review of real-world outcomes for anti-CGRP-mAbs.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed for real-world data of erenumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab, or eptinezumab in patients with migraines.

RESULTS

We identified 134 publications (89 retrospective), comprising 10 pharmaco-epidemiologic and 83 clinic-based studies, 38 case reports, and 3 other articles. None of the clinic-based studies provided follow-up data over more than one year in more than 200 patients. Findings suggest that there are reductions in health insurance claims and days with sick-leave as well as better treatment adherence with anti-CGRP-mAbs. Effectiveness, reported in 77 clinic-based studies, was comparable to randomized controlled trials. A treatment pause was associated with an increase in migraine frequency, and switching to another antibody resulted in a better response in some of the patients. Adverse events and safety issues were addressed in 86 papers, including 24 single case reports.

CONCLUSION

Real-world data on anti-CGRP-mAbs are limited by retrospective data collection, small patient numbers, and short follow-up periods. The majority of papers seem to support good effectiveness and tolerability of anti-CGRP-mAbs in the real-world setting. There is an unmet need for large prospective real-world studies providing long-term follow-ups of patients treated with anti-CGRP-mAbs.

Recent advances in targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide for the treatment of menstrual migraine: A narrative review

Menstrual migraine (MM) has a longer duration and higher drug resistance than non-perimenstrual migraine. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and CGRP receptors are expressed in the peripheral and central nervous systems throughout the trigeminovascular system. The CGRP/CGRP receptor axis plays an important role in sensory physiology and pharmacology. CGRP receptor antagonists and anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have shown consistent efficacy and tolerability in the prevention of chronic or episodic migraine and are now approved for clinical use. However, few studies have reported the use of these drugs in MM, and no specific treatment for MM has been approved. This review aimed to shed light on the recent advances in targeting calcitonin gene-related peptides for the treatment of menstrual migraines in PubMed. In this review, we first discuss the axis of the CGRP/CGRP receptor. We then discuss the role of CGRP receptor antagonists and anti-CGRP mAbs in MM treatment. Finally, we discuss the role of the combination of anti-CGRP mAbs and CGRP receptor antagonists in migraine treatment and the drugs that inhibit CGRP release. Altogether, the anti-CGRP mAbs or CGRP receptor antagonists showed good efficacy and safety in the treatment of MM.

Migraine Prevention with Erenumab: Focus on Patient Selection, Perspectives and Outcomes

Erenumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor suitable for episodic and chronic migraine prevention. Randomized clinical trials proved the superiority of erenumab to placebo in a strictly selected population, while real-world studies confirmed treatment efficacy in more severe forms of disease – most patients suffered from chronic migraine with medication overuse headache, had prior treatment failures, and long disease duration. According to guidelines, anti-CGRP pathway monoclonal antibodies should be reserved to patients who failed or have contraindication to several classes of preventive treatments. However, their ease of use, tolerability and efficacy make these monoclonal antibodies ideally suitable for most patients with migraine; cost-effectiveness needs to be considered when looking at expanding current prescription criteria. Also, data from open label extensions of randomized control trials confirmed sustained benefits of prolonged treatment up to 5 consecutive years without significant risk of adverse events. Further studies will provide insights on optimal treatment duration to achieve migraine remission and predictors of treatment response. In the present work, we aimed at reviewing design and results of the main studies on erenumab and discussing treatment use in the current migraine prevention scenario; we also summarized the main ongoing research projects and provided clinical perspectives for the future.

Effectiveness and Safety of CGRP-mAbs in Menstrual-Related Migraine: A Real-World Experience

INTRODUCTION

Migraine shows a significantly higher prevalence in women, especially during reproductive age when menstrual-related hormonal fluctuations represent the most common migraine trigger. Indeed, over 50% of patients report a higher occurrence of migraine attacks during the perimenstrual window. Menstrual migraine attacks are consistently referred to as more disabling, less responsive to symptomatic treatments, longer in duration, and more prone to relapse than non-menstrual migraine attacks. Evidence strongly suggests that estrogen fluctuations are involved in migraine attacks worsening during the perimenstrual window through several mechanisms directly or indirectly involving the CGRP pathway. We aimed to evaluate whether mAbs blocking CGRP-ligand or receptor (CGRP-mAbs) could represent an effective and safe preventive treatment for menstrual migraine attacks in patients with menstrual-related migraine (MRM) with previous treatment failures.

METHODS

Forty patients with MRM with at least three previous treatment failures received monthly CGRP-mAbs. At the baseline and after six CGRP-mAbs administrations, patients underwent to extensive interviews to assess frequency, duration, intensity, and responsiveness to painkiller intake of migraine attacks occurring during the perimenstrual window.

RESULTS

After six administrations of CGRP-mAbs we observed a reduction of median menstrual migraine frequency (from 5 to 2 days per month), pain intensity (from 8/10 to 6/10), and attacks duration (from 24 to 8 h) (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, a significant increase in the percentage of responding to migraine painkillers was observed from 42.5% at baseline to 95% at T1 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

CGRP-mAbs could represent a safe and effective preventive therapeutic strategy able to reduce the disabling burden of menstrual migraine attack frequency, duration, intensity, and significantly improve the response to painkillers. These findings could be related to and further indirectly prove the greater influence of CGRP-mediated mechanisms in the pathophysiology of menstrual migraine attacks.

Hormonal influences in migraine - interactions of oestrogen, oxytocin and CGRP

Migraine is ranked as the second highest cause of disability worldwide and the first among women aged 15-49 years. Overall, the incidence of migraine is threefold higher among women than men, though the frequency and severity of attacks varies during puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the postpartum period and menopause. Reproductive hormones are clearly a key influence in the susceptibility of women to migraine. A fall in plasma oestrogen levels can trigger attacks of migraine without aura, whereas higher oestrogen levels seem to be protective. The basis of these effects is unknown. In this Review, we discuss what is known about sex hormones and their receptors in migraine-related areas in the CNS and the peripheral trigeminovascular pathway. We consider the actions of oestrogen via its multiple receptor subtypes and the involvement of oxytocin, which has been shown to prevent migraine attacks. We also discuss possible interactions of these hormones with the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system in light of the success of anti-CGRP treatments. We propose a simple model to explain the hormone withdrawal trigger in menstrual migraine, which could provide a foundation for improved management and therapy for hormone-related migraine in women.

Acute and Preventive Management of Migraine during Menstruation and Menopause

Migraine course is influenced by female reproductive milestones, including menstruation and perimenopause; menstrual migraine (MM) represents a distinct clinical entity. Increased susceptibility to migraine during menstruation and in perimenopause is probably due to fluctuations in estrogen levels. The present review provides suggestions for the treatment of MM and perimenopausal migraine. MM is characterized by long, severe, and poorly treatable headaches, for which the use of long-acting triptans and/or combined treatment with triptans and common analgesics is advisable. Short-term prophylaxis with triptans and/or estrogen treatment is another viable option in women with regular menstrual cycles or treated with combined hormonal contraceptives; conventional prevention may also be considered depending on the attack-related disability and the presence of attacks unrelated to menstruation. In women with perimenopausal migraine, hormonal treatments should aim at avoiding estrogen fluctuations. Future research on migraine treatments will benefit from the ascertainment of the interplay between female sex hormones and the mechanisms of migraine pathogenesis, including the calcitonin gene-related peptide pathway.