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. 2023 Feb 13;15(1):273-284.
doi: 10.3390/neurolint15010017.

Migraine Disability Improvement during Treatment with Galcanezumab in Patients with Chronic and High Frequency Episodic Migraine

Francesca Schiano di Cola  1   2 , Marco Bolchini  1   2 , Salvatore Caratozzolo  2 , Giulia Ceccardi  1   2 , Matteo Cortinovis  1 , Paolo Liberini  2 , Renata Rao  2 , Alessandro Padovani  1   2
Affiliations

Migraine Disability Improvement during Treatment with Galcanezumab in Patients with Chronic and High Frequency Episodic Migraine

Francesca Schiano di Cola et al. Neurol Int. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the migraine outcome, in particular migraine disability, in chronic (CM) and high frequency episodic migraine (HFEM) patients in treatment with galcanezumab.

Methods: The present study was conducted at the Headache Centre of Spedali Civili of Brescia. Patients were treated with galcanezumab 120 mg monthly. Clinical and demographical information were collected at the baseline (T0). Data about outcome, analgesics consumption and disability (MIDAS and HIT-6 scores) were collected quarterly.

Results: Fifty-four consecutive patients were enrolled. Thirty-seven patients had a diagnosis of CM, 17 of HFEM. During treatment, patients reported a significant reduction in terms of mean headache/migraine days (p < 0.001), the attacks' pain intensity (p = 0.001) and monthly consumed analgesics (p < 0.001). The MIDAS and HIT-6 scores also documented a significant improvement (p < 0.001). At the baseline, all patients documented a severe degree of disability (MIDAS score ≥ 21). Following six months of treatment, only 29.2% of patients still documented a MIDAS score ≥ 21, with one third of patients documenting little or no disability. A > 50% MIDAS reduction, compared to baseline, was observed in up to 94.6% of patients, following the first three months of treatment. A similar outcome was found for HIT-6 scores. A significant positive correlation was found between headache days and MIDAS at T3 and T6 (T6 > T3), but not baseline.

Discussion: Monthly prophylactic treatment with galcanezumab was found to be effective in both CM and HFEM, especially in reducing migraine burden and disability.

Keywords: CGRP; HIT-6; MIDAS; burden; disability; galcanezumab; migraine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Migraine outcome during treatment with galcanezumab, following 3 (T3) and 6 (T6) months. (A) monthly headache days (MHDs) and analgesics consumption. (B) mean migraine attacks’ pain severity (NRS score). (C) MIDAS score. (D) HIT-6 score.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Degrees of migraine disability (MIDAS score) from the baseline and following 3 (T3) and 6 (T6) months of treatment.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation between MIDAS score and migraine frequency (MHDs) at the baseline (T0) and following 3 (T3) and 6 (T6) months of treatment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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