Characteristics of Migraine Attacks and Responses to Almotriptan Treatment: A Comparison of Menstrually Related and Nonmenstrually Related Migraines

• Published in: Headache 2008-02, Vol.48 (2), p.248-258
• Main Authors: Diamond, Merle L., Cady, Roger K., Mao, Lian, Biondi, David M., Finlayson, Gary, Greenberg, Steven J., Wright, Pamela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; almotriptan; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular system; Disability Evaluation; Double-Blind Method; Drug Evaluation; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; menstrual migraine; Menstruation - physiology; Menstruation - psychology; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders - diagnosis; Migraine Disorders - drug therapy; Migraine Disorders - etiology; Neurology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Serotonin Receptor Agonists - adverse effects; Serotonin Receptor Agonists - therapeutic use; treatment; Tryptamines - adverse effects; Tryptamines - therapeutic use; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Vasodilator agents. Cerebral vasodilators
• ISSN: 0017-8748; 1526-4610
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2007.01019.x

Objectives.— To compare the clinical characteristics of menstrually related migraines (MRMs) and nonmenstrually related migraines (nonMRMs) and to investigate the efficacy of almotriptan in the treatment of these migraine subtypes. Design/Methods.— These are post hoc analyses of data from the AXERT® Early miGraine Intervention Study (AEGIS), a multicenter, double‐blind, parallel‐group trial that evaluated adults with IHS‐defined migraine with and without aura. Patients were randomized 1 : 1 to treat 3 consecutive headaches with almotriptan 12.5 mg or matching placebo at the first sign of headache typical of their usual migraine, at any level of pain intensity but within 1 hour of onset. MRMs were defined as those occurring ±2 days of the first day of menstrual flow. Post hoc analyses to describe headache characteristics pooled all migraine attacks experienced by patients who reported ≥1 menses during the study regardless of assigned treatment group. The post hoc efficacy analyses included outcomes of almotriptan treatment compared with placebo treatment for all migraines in patients with a menstrual record. Results.— Of the 275 women in the AEGIS intent‐to‐treat population, 190 (69.1%; 97 almotriptan, 93 placebo; aged 18‐54 years) reported ≥1 menses during the trial. Of the 506 migraines reported by these patients, 95 (18.8%) occurred ±2 days of the first day of menstrual flow and were defined as MRM. Aura was associated with 11.7% of MRM and 15.0% of nonMRM. Allodynia‐associated symptoms were present with 62.8% of MRM and 57.0% of nonMRM. Prior to treatment, 19.1% of MRM were associated with normal functional ability, 68.1% with disturbed functional ability, and 12.8% required bed rest compared with 18.9%, 68.8%, and 12.3%, respectively, of nonMRM. Pretreatment pain intensity was mild in 40.0%, moderate in 47.4%, and severe in 12.6% of MRM compared with 43.6%, 47.2%, and 9.2%, respectively, of nonMRM. Almotriptan treatment efficacy outcomes for MRM vs nonMRM, respectively, were: 2‐hour pain relief, 77.4% vs 68.3%; 2‐hour pain free, 35.4% vs 35.9%; and sustained pain free, 22.9% vs 23.8%. Almotriptan was similarly effective in relieving migraine‐associated symptoms and improving functional disability associated with both MRM and nonMRM. Conclusions.— Prior to treatment, the presence of migraine‐associated characteristics including aura, allodynia‐associated symptoms, photophobia, phonophobia, and nausea were similar for both MRM and nonMRM attacks. The pre