A retrospective analysis of migraine prophylaxis with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies at the hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics

Abstract

Background. Migraine is a primary headache disorder described by episodic attacks that can progress to chronic migraine. Preventive treatment of anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (anti-CGRP mAbs) is currently being widely investigated worldwide.
Materials and methods. A total of 85 patients with migraine were enrolled in a retrospective study conducted in 2019-2021. Demographic and clinical data were collected and analyzed. Subjects were divided into groups by migraine course: chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM), and according to the medicine used (erenumab, fremanezumab). Treatment efficacy was assessed at 3 and 6 months after the start of treatment. A reduction of >50% in monthly headache days (MHDs) was considered a good response. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS statistics 27.0, the χ² test of homogeneity, Fisher’s exact, Student’s t, and Mann-Whitney tests.
Results. Of the 85 migraine patients, 75 (88.2%) were women. EM was diagnosed in 33 (38.8%) and CM in 52 (61.2%) patients. After treatment, the number of MHDs was significantly reduced in both anti-CGRP mAbs therapy groups (p<0.001). The response to anti-CGRP mAbs was similar between the EM and CM groups. A slightly better response was achieved with fremanezumab than erenumab (83.3% vs. 73.1% at 3 months; 83.3% vs. 65.7% at 6 months), but the difference was not significant (p=0.541; p=0.149). In 24 (58.5%) patients initially given 70 mg erenumab, after a median follow-up of 3 months (interquartile range: 2-6) it was decided to increase the dose of erenumab to 140 mg due to insufficient effect. The initial dose was increased more often in patients with chronic migraine (p=0.027).
Conclusions. Erenumab and fremanezumab are equally effective and equivalent for both migraine types. It was observed that more than half of the patients required a dose increase when treated with erenumab 70 mg, especially in CM group.