Erenumab in highly therapy-refractory migraine patients: First German real-world evidence

• DOI: 10.1186/s10194-020-01151-0
• Publication Date: 2020-07-03T06:14:14Z
• Authors: Armin Scheffler; Olga Messel; Sebastian Wurthmann; Michael Nsaka; Christoph Kleinsc...; Martin Glas; Steffen Naegel; Dagny Holle
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Migraine Disorders; Medizin; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Double-Blind Method; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptor Antagonists; Germany; 2. erenumab; Headache Disorders, Secondary; Humans; Retrospective Studies; 1. migraine; R; Headache; Middle Aged; 5. CGRP antibody; 3. Good health; 4. real-world; 3. therapy; Medicine; Female; Research Article; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

Abstract Background Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAB) are the first specific migraine prophylactic medication. Erenumab is the only CGRP mAB targeting the CGRP receptor. Clinical data regarding efficacy and tolerability of erenumab in highly therapy-refractory patients are not available, yet, although many patients treated with CGRP mAB under real world conditions can be considered as highly therapy-refractory.

Methods Clinical routine data of highly therapy-refractory migraine patients treated with erenumab 70 mg for 3 months between November 2018 and December 2019 in the West German Headache Center, University Hospital Essen, Germany, were analysed. Monthly migraine days (MMD), monthly headache days (MHD) and days of acute medication intake (AMD) were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test. Descriptive statistics were performed to evaluate changes of vegetative symptoms, acute medication response, side effects, as well as treatment satisfaction.

Results Complete clinical data were available for 26 episodic (EM) and 74 chronic (CM) migraineurs. Sixty-six % (n = 49) of CM patients had an additional medication overuse headache (MOH). After 3 months 57.7% of EM patients and 41.9% of CM patients had a 50% or greater reduction of MMD. The mean number of MMD was reduced by 3.43 (SE 1.26) in EM, and by 4.72 (SE 0.87) in CM. Thirty-nine patients (52.7%) returned from chronic to episodic course of migraine. After 3 months, 23 patients (46.9%) were not suffering from a MOH anymore.

Conclusions Erenumab seems to be a promising therapeutic option in highly therapy-refractory migraine patients.

Trial registration Retrospective registered.