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Emerging Concepts in Migraine Pathophysiology, Treatment and Management

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A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 11082

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vasileios Siokas

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece
2. School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Interests: neurosciences; neurology; molecular neurology; neurodegeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Efthimios Dardiotis

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece
2. School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Interests: neurosciences; neurology; neurogenetics; molecular neurology; cognitive impairment; neurorehabilitation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Migraine is a primary headache disorder, with recurrent headache episodes that can be debilitating, preventing the patient from taking on any form of activity. The World Health Organization estimates its worldwide prevalence around 10%, with a lifetime prevalence of 14%. Therefore, millions of people suffer from this disorder, which has been shown to lead to a drop in quality of life. Etiopathologically, several mechanisms have been proposed to drive migraine, such as cortical spreading depression, and many factors have been associated with its occurrence, for instance, hypercoaguability and vascular disorders. However, no definite understanding of its causes has been reached so far. The classical treatment options, such as paracetamol and triptans, are often ineffective in handling and preventing episodes, so research has turned towards alternative regimens, for example vitamin and melatonin supplements, onabotulinumtoxinA and novel drugs, such as calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) antagonists and monoclonal antibodies against CGRP or the CGRP receptor. Moreover, non-pharmacological approaches have also been examined. Due to the big numbers of patients seeking medical attention for migraine, and the fact that several patients are unresponsive to the available migraine medication, understanding its pathophysiology and examining new treatment options is crucial. Towards this matter, we invite researchers to contribute to the Special Issue of “Emerging Concepts in Migraine Pathophysiology, Treatment and Management”, by submitting articles on migraine. We look forward to receiving your submissions and adding to the scientific literature on this very interesting subject. All article types are welcome.

Dr. Vasileios Siokas
Dr. Efthimios Dardiotis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

migraine
headache
treatment
management
pathophysiology
drugs
monoclonal antibodies
non-pharmacological approaches

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Results of a Web-Based Survey on 2105 Greek Migraine Patients—Second Part: Efficacy of Acute and Prophylactic Migraine Treatments and Corresponding Patients’ Reported Satisfaction

by Emmanouil V. Dermitzakis, Aikaterini Kouroudi, Andreas A. Argyriou, Konstantinos C. Spingos, Konstantinos Bilias and Michail Vikelis

Medicina 2023, 59(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59010031 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1257

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The Greek Society of Migraine and Headache Patients conducted, in 2020, its second online survey, titled “Migraine in Greece—2020”, after publication of the first similar online survey conducted in 2018. To compare the current findings with the corresponding data obtained in 2018, we herein release the second part of results obtained from the 2020 survey on the efficacy of preventive and symptomatic anti-migraine medications and the patients’ reported satisfaction with these treatments. Materials and Methods: We surveyed 2105 migraine patients from all over Greece with the use of a 151-questions specific migraine-focused questionnaire in Greek language, which was distributed through the online research software “SurveyMonkey”. Results: Triptans were mostly used with efficacy for the symptomatic relief of migraine attacks. About 2 of 3 surveyed patients had received various prophylactic oral medications and the majority of them discontinued these prophylactic medications as a result of inefficacy/safety issues. BoNTA was reported to be effective only when administration was commenced by a trained neurologist/headache specialist, while our current findings are generally comparable to those obtained in our 2018 pre-COVID-19 survey and the pandemic has not imposed any significant attitudes on migraine therapies and corresponding patients’ satisfaction. Conclusion: Although a market change is anticipated with the evolving widespread use of anti-CGRPs monoclonal antibodies or gepants in the symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of migraine, it is of great interest to review published results of larger longitudinal population-based studies to further ascertain the satisfaction of patients to migraine therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Concepts in Migraine Pathophysiology, Treatment and Management)

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10 pages, 986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Association between Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Childhood Migraine

by Mohammed Abd Elmalik Hassan, Hussein Awad El-Gharieb, Mohamed Nasr, Wagih M. Abdelhay, Tahseen Samir Mohammed Yousef, Hossam M. Farid El-Zamek, Ahmed M. Zidan, Mohamed Nady, Mona A. Abdel-Kareem and Abdulkarim Hasan

Medicina 2022, 58(10), 1346; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58101346 - 25 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1775

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Migraine is caused by genetic susceptibility that is triggered by environmental as well as biological factors, and it is also linked to many somatic comorbidities, including clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism. We aimed to estimate the potential association between subclinical hypothyroidism (ScH) and migraine in children at our tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: Using a case–control strategy, 200 children and adolescents were assigned to two equal groups: a case group (patients with migraine) of 100 patients and a control group of 100 patients without migraine. Clinical and biochemical parameters (TSH, FT4) were compared between the groups using statistical analysis. Results: Thyroid function comparison between the groups showed higher TSH but normal FT4 among children with migraine headache compared to the control group, which means more frequent ScH cases among the migraine group relative to the control (17% vs. 2%, p < 0.001). Obesity and overweight were more frequent among patients with migraine than the control group (8 and 5% vs. 2 and 1%, respectively). The (overweight/obese) patients with migraine had about 77% ScH and 15.4% overt hypothyroidism compared to 8% ScH and no overt hypothyroidism among normal body weight migraine patients (p < 0.001). No significant difference in the prevalence of nodular goiter between patients with migraine and controls was found. Conclusions: Based on our results, subclinical hypothyroidism is significantly linked to childhood migraine. Obesity and being overweight are more frequent among patients with migraine. Therefore, it may be logical to test the thyroid function in migraineur children, especially those with high BMI. Further studies are recommended to discover the mechanism of this association in children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Concepts in Migraine Pathophysiology, Treatment and Management)

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11 pages, 1193 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deep Cervical Muscles and Functionality in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study

by Guillermo García-Pérez-de-Sevilla, Ángel Gónzalez-de-la-Flor, Daniel Martín-Vera, Diego Domínguez-Balmaseda and José Ángel del-Blanco-Muñiz

Medicina 2022, 58(7), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58070917 - 10 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1989

Abstract

Background and objectives: Chronic tension-type headache (TTH) is the type of headache with the highest prevalence. The involvement of musculoskeletal structures in TTH is supported by evidence in the scientific literature. Among these, deep cervical muscle strength appears to be related to the function of the cervical spine and the clinical characteristics of TTH. This study aimed to correlate anatomical, functional, and psychological variables in patients with TTH. Materials and methods: An observational descriptive study was carried out with 22 participants diagnosed with TTH for at least six months. The characteristics of headaches, including ultrasound-based deep neck flexor and extensor muscle thickness, range of motion (ROM), and pressure pain threshold (PPT), were recorded. We also conducted the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ) and the Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT). Results: Moderate–large negative correlations were found between the PVAQ and the muscle thickness of right deep flexors contracted (r = −0.52; p = 0.01), left multifidus contracted (r = −0.44; p = 0.04), right multifidus at rest (r = −0.48; p = 0.02), and right multifidus contracted (r = −0.45; p = 0.04). Moderate–large positive correlations were found between the CCFT score and the left cervical rotation ROM (r = 0.53; p = 0.01), right cervical rotation ROM (r = 0.48; p = 0.03), muscle thickness of left multifidus contracted (r = 0.50; p = 0.02), and muscle thickness of right multifidus at rest (r = 0.51; p = 0.02). The muscle thickness of the contracted right deep cervical flexors showed a moderate negative correlation with headache intensity (r = −0.464; p = 0.03). No correlations were found between PPT and the rest of the variables analyzed. Conclusions: In patients with TTH, a higher thickness of deep cervical muscles was associated with higher ROM and higher scores in the CCFT. In turn, the thickness of deep cervical muscles showed negative correlations with pain hypervigilance and headache intensity. These results contribute to a better understanding of the physical and psychosocial factors contributing to the development of TTH, which is useful for implementing appropriate prevention and treatment measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Concepts in Migraine Pathophysiology, Treatment and Management)

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17 pages, 670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Managing of Migraine in the Workplaces: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Italian Occupational Physicians

by Matteo Riccò, Pietro Ferraro, Vincenzo Camisa, Pasquale Di Palma, Giuseppa Minutolo, Silvia Ranzieri, Salvatore Zaffina, Antonio Baldassarre and Vincenzo Restivo

Medicina 2022, 58(5), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58050686 - 22 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2467

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Migraine is a debilitating disorder, whose incidence peak in the age group of 30–39 years overlaps with the peak of employment years, potentially representing a significant issue for occupational physicians (OP). The present study was performed in order to characterize their knowledge, attitudes and practices on migraine in the workplaces. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 242 Italian OP (mean age 47.8 ± 8.8 years, males 67.4%) participated in an internet-based survey by completing a structured questionnaire. Results: Adequate general knowledge of migraine was found in the majority of participants. Migraine was identified as a common and severe disorder by the majority of respondents (54.0% and 60.0%). Overall, 61.2% of participants acknowledged migraine as difficult to manage in the workplace, a status that made it more likely for OP understanding its potential frequency (Odds Ratio [OR] 3.672, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.526–8.831), or reported previous managing of complicated cases requiring conditional fitness to work judgement (OR 4.761, 95%CI 1.781–2.726). Moreover, professionals with a qualification in occupational medicine (OR 20.326, 95%CI 2.642–156.358), acknowledging the difficult managing of migraine in the workplaces (OR 2.715, 95%CI 1.034–7.128) and having received any request of medical surveillance for migraine (OR 22.878, 95%CI 4.816–108.683), were more likely to recommend specific requirements for migraineur workers. Conclusions: Migraine was recognized as a common disorder, but also as a challenging clinical problem for OP. Participating OP exhibited a substantial understanding of migraine and its triggers, but residual false beliefs and common misunderstanding may impair the proper management of this disorder, requiring improved and specifically targeted interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Concepts in Migraine Pathophysiology, Treatment and Management)

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Review

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20 pages, 5882 KiB

Open AccessReview

Deciphering the Role of the rs2651899, rs10166942, and rs11172113 Polymorphisms in Migraine: A Meta-Analysis

by Vasileios Siokas, Ioannis Liampas, Athina-Maria Aloizou, Maria Papasavva, Christos Bakirtzis, Eleftherios Lavdas, Panagiotis Liakos, Nikolaos Drakoulis, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos and Efthimios Dardiotis

Medicina 2022, 58(4), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58040491 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2568

Abstract

The genetic basis of migraine is rather complex. The rs2651899 in the PR/SET domain 16 (PRDM16) gene, the rs10166942 near the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8) gene, and the rs11172113 in the LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) gene, have been associated with migraine in a genome-wide association study (GWAS). However, data from subsequent studies examining the role of these variants and their relationship with migraine remain inconclusive. The aim of the present study was to meta-analyze the published data assessing the role of these polymorphisms in migraine, migraine with aura (MA), and migraine without aura (MO). We performed a search in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Public Health Genomics and Precision Health Knowledge Base (v7.7) databases. In total, eight, six, and six studies were included in the quantitative analysis, for the rs2651899, rs10166942, and rs11172113, respectively. Cochran’s Q and I2 tests were used to calculate the heterogeneity. The random effects (RE) model was applied when high heterogeneity was observed; otherwise, the fixed effects (FE) model was applied. The odds ratios (ORs) and the respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the effect of each variant on migraine. Funnel plots were created to graphically assess publication bias. A significant association was revealed for the CC genotype of the rs2651899, with the overall migraine group (RE model OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.02–1.73; p-value = 0.04) and the MA subgroup (FE model OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.12–1.74; p-value = 0.003). The rs10166942 CT genotype was associated with increased migraine risk (FE model OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.18–1.57; p-value < 0.0001) and increased MO risk (FE model OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.17–1.69; p-value = 0.0003). No association was detected for the rs11172113. The rs2651899 and the rs10166942 have an effect on migraine. Larger studies are needed to dissect the role of these variants in migraine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Concepts in Migraine Pathophysiology, Treatment and Management)

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