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Estimating Changes in Clinical Outcomes after Discontinuation of Anti-CGRP Targeting Therapy for Migraine
Luana Miyahira Makita1, Thales Pardini Fagundes2, Pedro Henrique Reginato3
1Complex of the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná, General Carneiro Street, 181, Curitiba, Paraná, 80060-900, Brazil. makitaluana@gmail.com.
Background And Objectives:
Anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) therapies have significantly improved migraine prevention, but the long-term impact of discontinuation remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes following the cessation of anti-CGRP therapy.
Methods:
PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched up to September 2024 for randomized or observational studies reporting post-discontinuation effects in patients with episodic or chronic migraine who had been preventively treated with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies or gepants. The primary outcome was the mean change in monthly migraine days from baseline to post-discontinuation. Secondary outcomes included acute headache medication use, the mean change in migraine frequency from active therapy to treatment cessation, and ≥ 50% responder rates. Heterogeneity was assessed with prediction intervals (PIs) for binary outcomes and I2 statistics for continuous data. Random-effects models pooled mean differences (MDs) and risk ratios (RRs), with subgroup analyses based on follow-up duration, study design, and individuals with chronic migraine.
Results:
Eight studies (n = 1012) evaluating anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies interruption were included. No studies on gepant cessation were found. Monthly migraine days decreased significantly post-discontinuation compared with baseline (MD -3.78; 95% CI -4.89, -2.67; I2 = 57%; p < 0.05), with reductions of - 5.70 days at 1 month and - 3.62 days at 3 months. Patients with chronic migraine showed sustained reductions (MD - 6.54; 95% CI - 8.64, - 4.43; I2 = 68%; p < 0.05) in the days per month with migraine between cessation and pre-treatment periods. Monthly acute headache medication days declined from baseline (MD - 1.74; 95% CI - 2.84, - 0.64; I2 = 0%; p < 0.05). Monthly migraine days increased at 3 months after discontinuation compared with just before discontinuation (MD 4.43; 95% CI 2.61, 6.25; I2 = 86%; p < 0.05), with monthly acute headache drug usage rising by 3.22 days. Responder rates of ≥ 50% declined (RR 0.42; 95% CI 0.33, 0.53; PI 0.17, 1.03; p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Migraine burden worsened after discontinuation of anti-CGRP targeting therapies but remained lower than pretreatment levels. Further research is needed to explore disease-modifying potential and optimal discontinuation strategies. PROSPERO registration number CRD42024595771.
