Monoclonal antibodies targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide pathway improve the effectiveness of acute medication—a real-world study

One of the aims of migraine prevention is to improve response to acute migraine treatments. The aim of the present study was to assess whether monoclonal antibodies targeting the CGRP pathway (CGRP-mAbs) can improve the perceived efficacy of acute treatments.

We included and followed up patients with chronic or episodic migraine from the Headache Centers of Avezzano-L’Aquila and Naples treated with CGRP-mAbs from March 2021 to December 2022. All patients filled out the Migraine Treatment Optimization Questionnaire (MTOQ), the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), and the Migraine Impact and Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) at baseline and 3–6 months after the start of treatment with CGRP-mAbs.

Sixty-five patients (81.3%) completed the 6-month follow-up. Most patients were female (55, 84.6%), with a median age of 46 years (IQR 39–56). Median MTOQ score increased from 8 (interquartile range [IQR] 4–13) at baseline to 15 (IQR 11–17) at 3 months (p < 0.001) and 16 (IQR 13–17) at the 6-month follow-up (p < 0.001). Median migraine days over 90-day periods decreased from 40 (IQR 24–60) to 24 (IQR 15–30) at 3 months (p < 0.001) and to 20 (IQR 12–24) at 6 months (p < 0.001). Median monthly intake of acute medication decreased from 55 doses (IQR 29–80.5) to 24 doses (IQR 15–40) at 3 months and 18 doses (IQR 11–30) at 6 months (p < 0.001).

We showed that 6 months of preventive treatment with CGRP-mAbs led to a significantly better effectiveness of acute treatments, paralleled by decreased monthly migraine days and acute treatment intake.