The study involved over 1,000 patients, the largest series ever published, from 12 Headache Units in different Spanish hospitals.
Chronic migraine is a neurological disorder that affects millions of people around the world. It is a complex condition with varied symptoms, including:
- Throbbing or pulsating pain: generally localized on one side of the head.
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
- Sensitivity to sound (phonophobia).
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Aura: in some cases, patients experience visual or sensory disturbances before the onset of pain.
“These symptoms can be debilitating, interfere with daily activities and effect people’s capacity to work, socialize and maintain family relationships”, explains Víctor Obach, neurologist at the Hospital Clínic Barcelona, IDIBAPS researcher and coordinator of the study.
Unlike episodic migraine, patients with chronic migraine have 15 or more headache days per month over a period of at least three months, which has a significant impact on their quality of life.
Immunotherapy for migraine
The study, published in The Journal of Headache and Pain, focused on validating the efficacy of galcanezumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), in patients with chronic migraine in a routine clinical practice setting. The real-world evidence used in this research allows for a more precise understanding of how galcanezumab works outside of controlled clinical trials.
The results of the study, which involved 1,055 patients, showed that galcanezumab is effective in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks in patients with chronic migraine. Fifty percent of patients treated with galcanezumab experienced a significant decrease in the number of migraine days per month, with this significantly improving their quality of life.
Moreover, galcanezumab was found to be not only effective, but also safe, with a manageable side-effect profile in the context of daily clinical practice. These findings are consistent with results observed in previous clinical trials, reinforcing the usefulness of this treatment in a real-world setting.
“The results of this study are promising and have important implications for the management of chronic migraine. The evidence collected in a real-life setting provides a more practical insight into how treatments can be more effective when tailored to the individual needs of patients," notes Dr. Obach.
Furthermore, he stresses the importance of a comprehensive approach to the treatment of chronic migraine, which not only focuses on reducing the frequency of attacks, but also on improving patients’ overall quality of life. This includes attention to factors such as sleep, diet, stress management and psychological support.
Study reference:
Obach V, Velasco F, Alvarez Escudero R, Martín Bujanda M, Aranceta S, Fabregat N, Marco T, Ruisanchez A, Roncero N, Mínguez-Olaondo A, Ruibal M, Guisado-Alonso D, Moreira A, Cuadrado-Godia E, Echeverria A, Kortazar Zubizarreta I, López-Bravo A, Riesco N, González-Fernández L, Pola N, Manera P, Guerrero-Peral ÁL, Oterino Duran A, González-Osorio Y, Armand R, Fernández-Fernández S, García-Azorín D, García-Moncó JC. Long-term effectiveness and tolerability of galcanezumab in patients with migraine excluded from clinical trials: real world evidence of 1055 patients with 1 year follow-up from the Galca-Only registry. J Headache Pain. 2023 Nov 22;24(1):157. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01690-2.
