Erenumab in chronic migraine

Casalena²,

et al. 2020

J Headache Pain

Background: Most patients treated with erenumab in clinical practice have chronic migraine (CM). We assessed the rate and possible predictors of conversion from CM to episodic migraine (EM) in a real-life study. Main body: We performed a subgroup analysis of patients treated with erenumab from January 2019 to February 2020 in the Abruzzo region, central Italy. Treatment was provided according to current clinical practice. For the purpose of the present study, we included patients fulfilling the definition of CM for the three months preceding erenumab treatment and with at least 6 months of follow-up after treatment. We assessed the rate of conversion to EM from baseline to Months 4-6 of treatment and during each month of treatment. To test the clinical validity of conversion to EM, we also assessed the decrease in monthly headache days (MHDs), acute medication days, and median headache intensity on a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). We included in our study 91 patients with CM. At Months 4-6, 62 patients (68.1%) converted from CM to EM; the proportion of converters increased from Month 1 to Month 5. In the overall group of patients, median MHDs decreased from 26.5 (IQR 20-30) to 7.5 (IQR 5-16; P < 0.001) compared with baseline, while median acute medication days decreased from 21 (IQR 16-30) to 6 (IQR 3-10; P < 0.001) and median NRS scores decreased from 8 (IQR 7-9) to 6 (IQR 4-7; P < 0.001). Significant decreases were found both in converters and in non-converters. We found no significant predictors of conversion to EM among the patients' baseline characteristics. Conclusions: In our study, two thirds of patients with CM converted to EM during 6 months of treatment with erenumab. MHDs, acute medication use, and headache intensity decreased regardless of conversion from CM to EM.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Conversion from chronic to episodic migraine in patients treated with erenumab: real-life data from an Italian region

Casalena²,

et al. 2020

J Headache Pain

“…All converters withhold medication overuse. The high rate of conversion to EM in our population of di cult-to-treat patients with a long history of CM and multiple prior preventive treatment failures, including botulinum toxin in ≥ 40% of cases, supports the e cacy of erenumab for the preventive treatment of patients with CM, as shown in randomized controlled trials [13][14][15][16][17][18] and real-life studies [7][8][9][10]. We also found that at Months 4-6 16.5% of patients achieved a status of LFEM, while 28.6% achieved a status of MFEM, which indicates a high treatment bene t and a substantial improvement in the patients' quality of life.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Conversion From Chronic to Episodic Migraine in Patients Treated With Erenumab: Real-life Data From an Italian Region

Casalena

et al. 2020

Preprint

BackgroundMost patients treated with erenumab in clinical practice have chronic migraine (CM). We assessed the rate and possible predictors of conversion from CM to episodic migraine (EM) in a real-life study.Main bodyWe performed a subgroup analysis of patients treated with erenumab from January 2019 to February 2020 in the Abruzzo region, central Italy. Treatment was provided according to current clinical practice. For the purpose of the present study, we included patients fulfilling the definition of CM for the three months preceding erenumab treatment and with at least 6 months of follow-up after treatment. We assessed the rate of conversion to EM from baseline to Months 4–6 of treatment and during each month of treatment. To test the clinical validity of conversion to EM, we also assessed the decrease in monthly headache days (MHDs), acute medication days, and median headache intensity on a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). We included in our study 91 patients with CM. At Months 4–6, 62 patients (68.1%) converted from CM to EM; the proportion of converters increased from Month 1 to Month 5. In the overall group of patients, median MHDs decreased from 26.5 (IQR 20–30) to 7.5 (IQR 5–16; P < 0.001) compared with baseline, while median acute medication days decreased from 21 (IQR 16–30) to 6 (IQR 3–10; P < 0.001) and median NRS scores decreased from 8 (IQR 7–9) to 6 (IQR 4–7; P < 0.001). Significant decreases were found both in converters and in non-converters. We found no significant predictors of conversion to EM among the patients’ baseline characteristics.ConclusionsIn our study, two thirds of patients with CM converted to EM during 6 months of treatment with erenumab. MHDs, acute medication use, and headache intensity decreased regardless of conversion from CM to EM.

“…All converters withhold medication overuse. The high rate of conversion to EM in our population of di cult-to-treat patients with a long history of CM and multiple prior preventive treatment failures, including botulinum toxin in ≥40% of cases, supports the e cacy of erenumab for the preventive treatment of patients with CM, as shown in randomized controlled trials [17][18][19][20][21][22] and real-life studies [10][11][12][13]. We also found that at Months 4-6 16.5% of patients achieved a status of LFEM, while 28.6% achieved a status of MFEM, which indicates a high treatment bene t and a substantial improvement in the patients' quality of life.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Conversion From Chronic To Episodic Migraine In Patients Treated With Erenumab: Real-Life Data From An Italian Region

Casalena

et al. 2020

Preprint

Background. Most patients treated with erenumab in clinical practice have chronic migraine (CM). We assessed the rate and possible predictors of conversion from CM to episodic migraine (EM) in a real-life study.Main body. We performed a subgroup analysis of patients treated with erenumab from January 2019 to February 2020 in the Abruzzo region, central Italy. Treatment was provided according to current clinical practice. For the purpose of the present study, we included patients fulfilling the definition of CM for the three months preceding erenumab treatment and with at least 6 months of follow-up after treatment. We assessed the rate of conversion to EM from baseline to Months 4-6 of treatment and during each month of treatment. To test the clinical validity of conversion to EM, we also assessed the decrease in monthly headache days (MHDs), acute medication days, and median headache intensity on a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). We included in our study 91 patients with CM. At Months 4-6, 62 patients (68.1%) converted from CM to EM; the proportion of converters increased from Month 1 to Month 5. In the overall group of patients, median MHDs decreased from 26.5 (IQR 20-30) to 7.5 (IQR 5-16; P<0.001) compared with baseline, while median acute medication days decreased from 21 (IQR 16-30) to 6 (IQR 3-10; P<0.001) and median NRS scores decreased from 8 (IQR 7-9) to 6 (IQR 4-7; P<0.001). Significant decreases were found both in converters and in non-converters. We found no significant predictors of conversion to EM among the patients’ baseline characteristics.Conclusions. In our study, two thirds of patients with CM converted to EM during 6 months of treatment with erenumab. MHDs, acute medication use, and headache intensity decreased regardless of conversion from CM to EM.