Migraine Disorders: Evers S

Anonymous00234, Evers S, Afra J, Frese A, Goadsby PJ, Linde M, May A, Sándor PS. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany. European Federation of NeurologicalSocieties · Eur J Neurol. · Pubmed #16796580 No free full text.

Abstract: Migraine is one of the most frequent disabling neurological conditions with a major impact on the patients' quality of life. To give evidence-based or expert recommendations for the different drug treatment procedures of the different migraine syndromes based on a literature search and an consensus in an expert panel. All available medical reference systems were screened for all kinds of clinical studies on migraine with and without aura and on migraine-like syndromes. The findings in these studies were evaluated according to the recommendations of the EFNS resulting in level A,B, or C recommendations and good practice points. For the acute treatment of migraine attacks, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and triptans are recommended. The administration should follow the concept of stratified treatment. Before intake of NSAIDs and triptans, oral metoclopramide or domperidon is recommended. In very severe attacks, intravenous acetylsalicylic acid or subcutaneous sumatriptan are drugs of first choice. A status migrainosus can probably be treated by steroids. For the prophylaxis of migraine, betablockers (propranolol and metoprolol), flunarizine, valproic acid, and topiramate are drugs of first choice. Drugs of second choice for migraine prophylaxis are amitriptyline, naproxen, petasites, and bisoprolol.

Evers S. · Klinik und Polklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48129, Münster, Deutschland. · Nervenarzt. · Pubmed #18806984 No free full text.

Abstract: Drug prevention of migraine is recommended if more than three attacks occur per month, acute drug treatment is insufficient, or very severe attacks with aura are the main problem. Besides beta blockers, a variety of substances have proved efficacious in migraine prevention. Thus individualised treatment of migraine patients is possible. When choosing the appropriate preventive drug, the potential side effects are considered. Drugs of first choice, besides beta blockers, are flunarizine, valproic acid, and topiramate. Second-choice drugs with lower efficacy or less well published evidence include amitriptyline, venlafaxine, gabapentin, naproxen, acetylsalicylic acid, butterbur root, vitamin B2, and magnesium. Flunarizine or propranolol are recommended for children.

Evers S. · University of Münster, Department of Neurology, Albert-Schweitzer-Street 33, 48129 Münster, Germany. · Expert Opin Pharmacother. · Pubmed #18803445 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Migraine is among the 10 most disabling disorders worldwide. Besides acute attack treatment, drug prophylaxis of migraine is important in order to improve the quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to describe the indications, principles and appropriate drugs with published evidence for the prophylaxis of migraine in general and in specific situations. METHODS: Based on the American and European guidelines for the treatment of migraine, the evidence for different drugs in the prophylaxis of migraine was evaluated. In addition, all trials on migraine drug prophylaxis published since the publication of the guidelines were included in the evaluation. These trials were identified by a literature search in MedLine, Embase and the Cochrane library. RESULTS: The drugs of first choice are beta-blockers, flunarizine, valproic acid and topiramate and, in the US, amitriptyline is also grouped among the first-choice drugs. Drugs of second choice, with less efficacy or poorer evidence, are venlafaxine, gabapentin, naproxen, butterbur root, vitamin B(2) and magnesium. The potential side effects are considered when choosing the appropriate prophylactic drug. All drugs used in migraine prophylaxis have been detected by chance and not by pathophysiological considerations. In the future, drugs developed on the basis of the current knowledge of migraine pathophysiology will hopefully be more effective.

Frese A, Evers S. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. · Cephalalgia. · Pubmed #18494989 No free full text.

Abstract: Upper cervical pain is frequent in different primary headaches and not sufficient evidence for cervicogenic headache (CH). Biological markers should help to differentiate CH from other headache disorders. In most cases, imaging techniques of the cervical spine are not helpful for the diagnosis of CH. Symptoms and signs of neck involvement, such as a mechanical precipitation of attacks, a restriction in range of motion of the cervical spine, and the existence of ipsilateral neck, shoulder, or arm pain, seem to be reasonably valid for the diagnosis of CH, but its reliability and validity should be confirmed in larger studies. Positive diagnostic blockades of cervical structures or its nerve supply are not specific for CH. Neurophysiological investigations give some insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms of CH but are not diagnostic. In CH, calcitonin gene-related peptide levels do not differ between the symptomatic and the asymptomatic side, between the jugular and the cubital blood, and between days with and without headache. There is no evidence for an activation of the trigeminovascular system in CH. It can be concluded that CH is not just a migraine variant triggered by neck dysfunction but a functional entity.

Straube A, May A, Kropp P, Katsarava Z, Haag G, Lampl C, Sándor PS, Diener HC, Evers S. · Neurologische Klinik, Klinikum Grosshadern der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 München, Deutschland. · Schmerz. · Pubmed #18483751 No free full text.

Abstract: The criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS) define four different primary headache syndromes with daily chronic headaches: chronic migraine, episodic and chronic tension type headache, hemicrania continua, new daily persisting headache. A further important differential diagnosis is medication overuse headache (previously known as analgesia headache). The German, Austrian, and Swiss headache societies now present the first joint guidelines for therapy of these headache syndromes. The current literature was reviewed and a summary is presented. The therapy recommendations do not only include the scientific evidence but also the practical relevance.

Paemeleire K, Evers S, Goadsby PJ. · Headache Clinic, Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. · Curr Pain Headache Rep. · Pubmed #18474192 No free full text.

Abstract: Cluster headache (CH) is associated with the most severe pain of the primary headache disorders. Barriers to optimal care include misdiagnosis, diagnostic delay, undertreatment, and mismanagement. Medication-overuse headache (MOH) may further complicate CH and may present as increased CH frequency or development of a background headache, which may be featureless or have some migrainous quality. A personal or familial history of migraine appears to be strongly associated with the development of MOH in CH, at least with the phenotype of background headache. Patients with CH, especially those with a personal and/or family history of migraine, must be carefully monitored for MOH, and medication withdrawal should be considered if a CH patient presents with features of MOH.

Evers S. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, Germany. · Curr Pain Headache Rep. · Pubmed #17504653 No free full text.

Abstract: Studies on the treatment of migraine in children and adolescents are rare and difficult to design. In particular, the high placebo response makes it difficult to show efficacy of a verum drug. When analyzing all published trials in the acute drug treatment of migraine in children, crossover trials show lower placebo rates and higher therapeutic gain, compared with parallel group trials. This should be considered in the future design of acute drug trials in childhood migraine.

Evers S. · University of Münster, Department of Neurology, Albert-Schweitzer-Street 33, 48129 Münster, Germany. · Expert Opin Investig Drugs. · Pubmed #16989593 No free full text.

Abstract: There is an increasing number of studies on botulinum toxin A in the treatment of idiopathic and symptomatic headache; however, many studies can hardly be compared with each other because of different end points and different trial designs. For the prophylactic treatment of tension-type headache, migraine and cervicogenic headache, no sufficient positive evidence for a successful treatment can be obtained from the randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled trials performed so far. For the treatment of chronic daily headache (including medication-overuse headache), there is inconsistent positive evidence for subgroups (e.g., patients without other prophylactic treatment). This means that most of the double-blind and placebo-controlled studies do not confirm the assumption that botulinum toxin A is efficacious in the treatment of idiopathic headache disorders; however, it is possible that some subgroups of patients with chronic migraine benefit from a long-term treatment for > or = 6 months.

Evers S. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany. · Curr Opin Neurol. · Pubmed #16702841 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Reports and studies on botulinum toxin A in headache treatment are increasing. The studies available from reference systems and published congress contributions on the prophylactic treatment of idiopathic and symptomatic headache with botulinum toxin were analyzed with respect to the study design, the headache diagnosis, and the significance of results. RECENT FINDINGS: For the prophylactic treatment of tension-type headache and migraine, no sufficient positive evidence for a treatment with botulinum toxin A is obtained from randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trials to date. For the treatment of chronic daily headache (including medication overuse headache), there is inconsistent positive evidence for subgroups (e.g. patients without other prophylactic treatment). SUMMARY: The majority of double-blind and placebo-controlled studies do not confirm the assumption that botulinum toxin A is efficacious in the treatment of idiopathic headache disorders. It is possible that subgroups of patients with chronic daily headache benefit from a long-term treatment with this substance. Future clinical trials should focus on these defined patient groups.

Evers S. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, 48129 Münster, Germany. · Curr Pain Headache Rep. · Pubmed #15745620 No free full text.

Abstract: Little is known about specific changes of cognitive processing in cluster headache. Studies on event-related potentials (ERP) suggest that stimulus evaluation is impaired in chronic cluster headache and in episodic cluster headache during the cluster period, but not in the interval between two periods. Patients with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania do not show this impairment. Unlike patients with migraine, patients with cluster headache do not present with a loss of cognitive habituation as measured by ERP. In neuropsychologic evaluations, a reversible decline of memory processing was detected during the cluster attack, but not between two attacks. Long-term observation revealed no progressive cognitive decline in cluster headache patients over the years. With regard to personality changes, a liability susceptibility to anxiety disorders and to hypochondriasis, but not to mood changes, has been described inconsistently. All changes in alterations of cognitive processing in cluster headache are demonstrated to be mild and do not relevantly contribute to the clinical picture of this disease.

Gendolla A, Evers S. · Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Essen. · Schmerz. · Pubmed #15316764 No free full text.

Abstract: In pregnancy and in childhood, headache and migraine are challenging therapeutic problems.However, this review aims to give treatment recommendations for drug and non-drug therapy in both patient groups which are based on scientific evidence. Pregnant women often lose their migraine attacks which reappear during lactation. During pregnancy acute headache can be treated with paracetamol, in the middle trimenon also ASA and ibuprofen are allowed. Triptans for the acute treatment of migraine are contraindicated. As prophylactic agents, only metoprolol, fluoxetine, and magnesium are possible. In childhood, drug of first choice for acute headache treatment is ibuprofen. Migraine can also be treated by sumatriptan nasal spray. In migraine prophylaxis, flunarizine is drug of first choice, no prophylactic drugs are evaluated for tension-type headache in childhood. The problems of specific contraindications and of the off-label use of drugs in this particular life periods are discussed.

Evers S. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany. · Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. · Pubmed #15167029 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is an increasing number of reports on botulinum toxin in pain therapy, in particular in headache treatment. Therefore, the studies available from reference systems and published congress contributions on the prophylactic treatment of idiopathic and cervicogenic headache with botulinum toxin were analyzed with respect to study design, headache diagnosis, and the significance of results. RECENT FINDINGS: For the prophylactic treatment of tension-type headache, migraine, and cervicogenic headache, no sufficient positive evidence for treatment with botulinum toxin is obtained from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to date. For the treatment of miscellaneous headache, there is some but no consistent positive evidence. SUMMARY: Most open studies and case reports suggest an efficacy of botulinum toxin in headache prophylaxis but double-blind, placebo-controlled studies do not confirm this assumption. Larger controlled studies are needed for a definite evaluation of subgroups that might possibly benefit from such a treatment. Migraine, tension-type headache, and cervicogenic headache cannot be regarded as a general indication for a treatment with botulinum toxin.

Evers S. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, 48129 Münster, Germany. · Curr Pain Headache Rep. · Pubmed #12720604 No free full text.

Abstract: In this review, the studies and case reports that are available from reference systems and published congress contributions on the treatment of migraine with botulinum toxin are evaluated. The studies and reports were analyzed with respect to the study design, the efficacy parameters, and the significance of results. One double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study with negative (for a 75 U dose of botulinum toxin) and positive (for a 25 U dose of botulinum toxin) evidence of efficacy, one that was a partly positive controlled study (pain intensity, but not attack-frequency improved), and four positive open studies were available. For the acute treatment of migraine with botulinum toxin, only positive case reports were published. As a result of this analysis, there is no sufficient scientific evidence for a treatment recommendation of migraine with botulinum toxin. Further studies are needed for a definite evaluation of subgroups with probable benefit from such a treatment and for the comparison of botulinum toxin with other migraine prophylactic drugs.

Frese A, Schilgen M, Husstedt IW, Evers S. · Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster. · Schmerz. · Pubmed #12695893 No free full text.

Abstract: Cervicogenic headache (CH) originates from disorders of the neck but is recognized as a referred pain in the head. Primary sensory afferents from the cervical roots C1-C3 converge with afferents from the occiput and trigeminal afferents on the same second-order neuron in the upper cervical spine. Consequently, the anatomical structures innervated by the cervical roots C1-C3 are potential sources of CH. In normal volunteers, the painful stimulation of different anatomical structures of the neck produced headache. In CH, particular structures have been selectively anesthetized in order to identify possible sources of pain. In summary, CH can origin from different muscles and ligaments of the neck, from intervertebral discs,and, particularly, from the atlantooccipital, atlantoaxial, and C2/C3 zygapophyseal joints. Diagnosis of CH should adhere strictly to the published diagnostic criteria to avoid misdiagnosis and confusion with primary headache disorders such as migraine and tension type headache.

Evers S, Goadsby PJ. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany. · Neurology. · Pubmed #12654950 No free full text.

Abstract: Hypnic headache has been described in several case reports since 1981 and is regarded as an idiopathic headache disorder. In this review of 71 cases in the literature, the clinical features, neurophysiologic including polysomnographic findings, and treatment procedures are analyzed and the pathophysiology of this condition, which remains however speculative, is discussed. There is some evidence that hypnic headache is related to REM sleep. The analysis shows that hypnic headache most probably is an entity among the idiopathic headache disorders unassociated with structural lesions and does not belong to the trigeminal-autonomic cephalalgias. Lithium shows the best efficacy; indomethacin, flunarizine, and caffeine may also be useful.

Paulus W, Evers S, May A, Steude U, Wolowski A, Pfaffenrath V, Anonymous00002. · Abteilung Klinische Neurophysiologie der Universität Göttingen. · Schmerz. · Pubmed #12579391 No free full text.

Abstract: Trigeminal neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia are the most relevant neuralgiform facial pain syndromes. Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by lancinating intensive pain attacks of very short duration, triggered by external cues,whereas postherpetic neuralgia consists predominantly of long-lasting burning pain. Sodium channel blocking drugs are first choice in treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, operative procedures encompass microvascular decompression,thermocoagulation and percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy. In the acute stage postherpetic neuralgia is treated antivirally and analgesically, in the chronic stage by tricyclic antidepressive substances. Other pain syndromes described encompass the Tolosa-Hunt-syndrome, cervicogenic headache, craniomandibular dysfunction syndrome, atypical facial pain and rarer syndromes. Therapeutic recommendations are based on evidence based medicine criteria (EBM).

Evers S, Pothmann R, Uberall M, Naumann E, Gerber WD. · Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany. · Schmerz. · Pubmed #11845341 No free full text.

Abstract: According to the principles of evidence-based medicine, the controlled studies on the treatment of idiopathic headache in childhood have been analysed and compiled to treatment recommendations. For the acute treatment of migraine attacks or tension-type headache, ibuprofen (10 mg per kg body weight) or acetaminophen (15 mg per kg body weight) are recommended with highest evidence, intranasal sumatriptan (10 to 20 mg) can be given as second choice. For the prophylaxis of migraine, betablockers (propranolol and metoprolol), flunarizine, and valproic acid are recommended. Flunarizine is the drug of first choice in the treatment of migraine-related disorders. No controlled studies are available for the treatment of further headache types. First line methods for the non-drug treatment of headache in childhood are relaxation therapies, biofeedback, and specific training schedules.

Happe S, Zeitlhofer J, Evers S. · Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. · Wien Klin Wochenschr. · Pubmed #11383387 No free full text.

Abstract: Headaches and sleep disorders are frequent and can be associated with each other. Some headache syndromes are related to certain sleep phases or circadian rhythms. These so-called sleep-related headache syndromes include specific types of migraine, cluster headache, chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, and the hypnic headache syndrome. Except for the latter, they were included in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and are described in this article.

Evers S. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany. · Paediatr Drugs. · Pubmed #10937475 No free full text.

Abstract: Migraine according to the criteria of the International Headache Society, occurs in about 3 to 7% of all children. Despite this high incidence, and unlike the situation with adult migraine, only a very few controlled trials have investigated the acute and prophylactic treatment of migraine in children. In the acute migraine attack, ibuprofen 10 mg/kg and paracetamol (acetaminophen) 15 mg/kg have been shown to be effective, with only a few adverse effects. In severe migraine attacks, dihydroergotamine mesylate (dihydroergotamine) administered orally (20 to 40 microg/kg) or intravenously (maximum 1 mg/day) may be helpful, but there have been no large placebo-controlled trials of this treatment. Oral sumatriptan has not been effective in several double-blind and placebo-controlled trials; administered subcutaneously, this drug might be helpful but the only data for this application come from open trials. For migraine prophylaxis, only flunarizine 5 mg/day has been shown to be effective in more than 1 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Some evidence also exists that propranolol >60 mg/day and pizotifen 0.5 to 1.5 mg/day are effective; however, the results from different trials are contradictory. For all other drugs studied in migraine prophylaxis, the results remain vague (e.g. amitriptyline, nimodipine, trazodone) or suggest inefficacy (e.g. timolol, clonidine, tryptophan). In migraine-related disorders, pizotifen 0.5 to 0.75 mg/day for abdominal migraine and flunarizine 10 to 25 mg/day for alternating hemiplegia have been shown to be effective. Most of the drugs used in the treatment of migraine in children are well tolerated and without relevant adverse effects. In migraine prophylaxis, the most common adverse effects are drowsiness and bodyweight gain.

Diener HC, Evers S. · Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. · Clin Drug Investig. · Pubmed #17177580 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Addressing the needs of migraineurs by actively seeking patient feedback on disease-related disability and treatment satisfaction may lead to improved management and treatment outcomes. Patient feedback can be collected in postmarketing surveillance (PMS) studies. The objective of this PMS study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of zolmitriptan 5 mg nasal spray in the acute treatment of migraine attacks. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients received zolmitriptan 5 mg nasal spray to treat migraine attacks of any severity and were followed up after a maximum of 4 months. Patients evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of zolmitriptan nasal spray, and were asked whether they wished to continue using zolmitriptan nasal spray and their preference compared with previous treatments. Physicians also assessed the efficacy and tolerability of zolmitriptan nasal spray. RESULTS: A total of 1838 patients (84.8% females) participated in the study. Within 30 minutes of administration of zolmitriptan nasal spray, 85.0% of patients reported improvements in headache pain, with 25.1% reporting an improvement within 10 minutes. At 1 hour post-dose, 57.9% of patients were pain free and 61.7% were able to resume usual daily activities. Most patients (72.9%) rated zolmitriptan nasal spray as 'better' than previous therapy. The majority (88.8%) expressed a wish to continue using zolmitriptan nasal spray. Physicians evaluated the efficacy of zolmitriptan nasal spray as 'excellent' or 'good' in 89.4% of patients. Tolerability was evaluated as 'excellent' or 'good' in 91.6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Zolmitriptan 5 mg nasal spray provides favourable efficacy and tolerability in the acute treatment of migraine attacks. Most patients assessed zolmitriptan nasal spray as 'better' than previous treatment, with nearly all wishing to continue using it.

Evers S, Vollmer-Haase J, Schwaag S, Rahmann A, Husstedt IW, Frese A. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany. · Cephalalgia. · Pubmed #15377314 No free full text.

Abstract: Botulinum toxin A has been suggested to be effective in the prophylactic treatment of migraine. However, only very few randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are available. We designed such a study with a specific focus on different injection sites. Sixty patients with a migraine according to the criteria of the International Headache Society were randomly assigned to receive either placebo in the frontal and neck muscles, or to receive 16 U botulinum toxin A in the frontal muscles and placebo in the neck muscles, or to receive in total 100 U botulinum toxin A in the frontal and neck muscles. The observation period was 3 months. In both treatment groups, 30% of patients showed a reduction of migraine frequency in month 3 by at least 50% compared with baseline, in the placebo group 25% of the patients showed such a reduction (P = 0.921). There were no significant differences between the three study groups with respect to reduction of migraine frequency, number of days with migraine, and the number of total single doses to treat a migraine attack. In the post hoc analysis, the reduction of all accompanying symptoms was significantly higher in the 16 U treatment group compared with the placebo group. In the 100 U treatment group significantly more adverse events occurred compared with the placebo group. All adverse events were mild and transient. Our study did not show any efficacy of botulinum toxin A in the prophylactic treatment of migraine. Only accompanying symptoms were significantly reduced in the 16 U but not in the 100 U treatment group. Future studies should focus on the efficacy of botulinum toxin A in specific subgroups of patients, on the efficacy of repetitive injections, and on other injection sites.

Evers S, Rüschenschmidt J, Frese A, Rahmann A, Husstedt IW. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany. · Headache. · Pubmed #14629247 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential cognitive impairment caused by acute antimigraine drugs. METHODS: We conducted a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study to detect the short-term impact of sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, and ergotamine tartrate on cognitive processing as measured by event-related potentials and a d2 test. Sixteen healthy subjects were enrolled in the study and given placebo, sumatriptan 100 mg, zolmitriptan 2.5 mg, and ergotamine tartrate 2 mg on different days and in random order. Before and 2 hours after drug administration, visually evoked event-related potentials and a d2 test were measured. RESULTS: The N2 latency was significantly increased after ergotamine intake. No other significant differences could be observed in all other event-related potential parameters. In the d2 test, the GZ value was unchanged after ingestion of zolmitriptan and ergotamine, but improved significantly after taking placebo and sumatriptan. The number of relative errors and the concentration value did not change significantly. All results fell within the reference values for the d2 test in all examinations. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that there may be a slight cognitive decline 2 hours after ingestion of ergotamine tartrate and, to an even lesser extent, zolmitriptan, but not after ingestion of sumatriptan or placebo. All changes recorded were very mild and unlikely to be clinically relevant.

Diener HC, Hartung E, Chrubasik J, Evers S, Schoenen J, Eikermann A, Latta G, Hauke W, Anonymous00184. · Department of Neurology, University of Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. · Cephalalgia. · Pubmed #11422094 No free full text.

Abstract: This study was a multinational, multicentre, double-blind, active controlled phase III trial designed to investigate efficacy and safety of 300 mg acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA) (n = 135) vs. 200 mg metoprolol (n = 135) in the prophylaxis of migraine. In total 270 (51 male and 219 female) patients, aged 18-65 years, suffering between two and six migraine attacks per month were recruited. The main objective was to show equivalence with respect to efficacy, defined as a 50% reduction in the rate of migraine attacks. A run-in phase was carried out with placebo for 4 weeks, followed by a 16-week drug phase. In both treatment groups the median frequency of migraine attacks improved during the study period, from three to two in the ASA group and from three to one in the metoprolol group; 45.2% of all metoprolol patients were responders compared with 29.6% with ASA. Medication-related adverse events were less frequent in the ASA group (37) than in the metoprolol group (73). The findings from this trial show that metoprolol is superior to ASA for migraine prophylaxis but has more side-effects. Acetylsalicylic acid is better tolerated than metoprolol. Using a strict responder criterion ASA showed a responder rate comparable with the placebo rate in the literature.

Evers S, Wibbeke B, Reichelt D, Suhr B, Brilla R, Husstedt I. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48129, Münster, Germany. · Pain. · Pubmed #10692618 No free full text.

Abstract: Headache is one of the most important factors influencing the quality of life in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV). However, only symptomatic headache but not changes or primary headache types during HIV infection have been studied to date. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of an HIV infection on frequency and semiology of different primary headache types. Patients with confirmed HIV type 1 infection underwent a neurological examination, neuroimaging or EEG, and a standardized interview. Time pattern and symptoms of headaches (cross-sectional analysis), changes of headaches preexisting to their infection (longitudinal retrospective analysis), and changes of primary headaches during a 2-year follow-up (longitudinal prospective analysis) were evaluated as were the correlations between these headache patterns and different markers of HIV infection. One hundred thirty-one consecutive HIV-infected patients without evidence of a cerebral manifestation except mild encephalopathy were enrolled. The point prevalence of migraine was 16.0% (confidence interval (CI) 10.1-25.4%), of headache with a semiology of tension-type headache 45.8% (CI 33.7-62.2%), and of other headache types 6.1% (CI 3.0-12.5%). During the natural course of infection, the migraine frequency significantly decreased in the retrospective and in the prospective analyses, whereas the frequency of the headache with a semiology of tension-type headache significantly increased in all three analyses. In 20% of all patients, the tension-type headache could be considered as symptomatic due to the infection but not due to focal or general cerebral lesions. Changes of primary headache were significantly associated with different stages of the infection and with the presence of mild encephalopathy but not with antiretroviral treatment or CD4 cell count. HIV infection seems to be associated with a progressive decrease in migraine frequency and intensity which probably is related to the immunological state of the patients. Tension-type headache becomes more frequent during HIV infection. However, this can in part be related to secondary headache caused by the HIV in less than 50% of patients with tension-type headache. The progressing immunological deficiency of HIV-infected patients seems to influence pain processing of primary headache types in different ways.

Evers S, Suhr B, Bauer B, Grotemeyer KH, Husstedt IW. · Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48129 Münster, Germany. · J Neurol. · Pubmed #10525978 No free full text.

Abstract: Drug-induced headache is well known to result from the abuse of compounds taken for the treatment of primary headache. The features of drug-induced headache depend on various features including the availability of drugs, the regional health system, and psychogenic factors of the patients. We performed a retrospective study on a series of 257 consecutive German patients presenting with drug-induced headache during the period 1983-1996. Our aim study was to evaluate the demographic features, the frequency of various drugs used, in particular of ergotamine derivates, and changes in these features during the study period. The frequency of drug-induced headache among all headache patients was 8%, with a female preponderance of 81%. Drug-induced headache occurred in all age groups, predominantly in migraine patients (35%). The mean number of substances used was 2.7, mainly, acetaminophen (47.9%), ergotamine tartrate (45%), and combined analgesics (56%). We did not find a significant difference between the associations with ergotamine tartrate and dihydroergotamine, although the latter was taken less frequently. Comparing the early and late years of our study period, there were no changes in the frequency of drug-induced headache (8% versus 7%), although changes in the frequency of some drugs changed (barbiturates, ergotamine tartrate, and codeine intake decreased whereas nonsteroidal anti-inflationary drugs, combined analgesics, and sumatriptan intake increased). Our data suggest that changes in drug availability and the introduction of classification criteria and treatment recommendations did not have a major impact on the frequency of drug-induced headache.