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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
OnabotulinumtoxinA (botulinum toxin type-A) in the prevention of migraine
1Headache Care Center, 3805 S. Kansas Expressway, Springfield, MO 65807, USA. rcady@banyangroupinc.com
Importance Of The Field:
Migraine is a highly prevalent disorder with the potential to progress into a chronic disease. The disability and health effects associated with frequent episodes of migraine underscore the value of preventive pharmacotherapy.
Areas Covered In This Review:
OnabotulinumtoxinA has been studied as a migraine preventive in numerous clinical trials and in a variety of subpopulations with migraine. Overall, results from the clinical trials are mixed. However, the largest and most recent parallel studies (n = 1330) conducted on subjects with chronic migraine achieved statistically significant efficacy on numerous endpoints including the primary endpoint of reduction of headache days.
What The Reader Will Gain:
This article reviews several clinical studies using onabotulinumtoxinA in migraine prevention and highlights some of the inherent difficulties defining study endpoints and outcomes that are relevant to clinician, patients, and regulatory agencies.
Take Home Message:
Clinical trials utilizing onabotulinumtoxinA as a preventive therapy for migraine has revealed mixed results. In part this reflects the inherent difficulties in study design such as defining different subpopulations of migraine sufferers and trial end points that are meaningful to patient populations. Recent studies of subjects with chronic migraine appear to have positive results. If confirmed this would be the first preventive medication indicated specifically for chronic migraine.
Insights
OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) shows mixed results for migraine prevention, but recent studies indicate positive outcomes for chronic migraine sufferers. Further research is needed to confirm its efficacy as a specific treatment for chronic migraine.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Migraine is a common neurological disorder with significant disability.
- Frequent migraine episodes highlight the need for effective preventive treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review clinical studies on onabotulinumtoxinA for migraine prevention.
- To discuss challenges in migraine trial endpoint definition.
Main Methods:
- Review of numerous clinical trials involving onabotulinumtoxinA in various migraine subpopulations.
- Analysis of results from large-scale parallel studies in chronic migraine patients.
Main Results:
- Clinical trial results for onabotulinumtoxinA in migraine prevention are generally mixed.
- Large studies in chronic migraine patients demonstrated statistically significant efficacy in reducing headache days.
Conclusions:
- OnabotulinumtoxinA has yielded inconsistent results in migraine prevention trials.
- Recent positive findings in chronic migraine warrant further investigation as a potential first-in-class preventive medication.
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