CGRP in Childhood and Adolescence Migraine: (Patho)physiological and Clinical Aspects

Abstract

Purpose of review: To summarise and analyse the current knowledge of CGRP metabolism in childhood and adolescence and its role in childhood and adolescence migraine.

Recent findings: Influencing CGRP pathways is nowadays one of the main mechanisms to treat migraine. In adults, several clinical trials with different drug classes have supported this finding. However, only very little is known on these mechanisms in children and adolescents with migraine. Based on a literature search, it can be concluded that substantial parts of the CGRP pathways are already developed and working in the preterm fetus of animals. Newborn animals show high CGRP levels and high density of CGRP positive neurons and nerve fibres. In human studies, increased levels of CGRP were observed in childhood and adolescent migraine patients. Remedies based on influencing CGRP metabolism are also working in that age group. For triptans, this has clearly been shown; for gepants, no data are available, and for CGRP ligand/receptor antibodies, positive evidence is only available from case series. Only very little is known on CGRP metabolism in childhood and adolescence. However, placebo-controlled clinical trials both on CGRP antagonists and on CGRP ligand/receptor antibodies are under way and will show in some years whether these drug classes are efficacious also in children and adolescents.

Keywords: Antibodies; Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP); Gepants; Migraine; Triptans.