BoNT-A efficacy in high frequency migraine: an open label, single arm, exploratory study applying the PREEMPT paradigm

Introduction In this open label, single-arm trial we evaluated the efficacy of onabotulinum toxin-A in the prevention of high-frequency episodic migraine (8-14 migraine days/month). Methods We enrolled 32 high-frequency episodic migraine subjects (age 44.8 +/- 11.9 years, 11.0 +/- 2.2 migraine days, 11.5 +/- 2.1 headache days, 7 females). After a 28-day baseline period, subjects underwent 4 subsequent onabotulinum toxin-A treatments according to the phase III research evaluating migraine prophylaxis therapy (PREEMPT) paradigm, 12-weeks apart. The primary outcome was the reduction of monthly migraine days from baseline in the 12-week period following the last onabotulinum toxin-A treatment Results Onabotulinum toxin-A reduced monthly migraine days by 3.68 days (-33.1%, p < 0.01). Thirty-nine percent of the patients experienced a >= 50% reduction in monthly migraine days. Onabotulinum toxin-A also reduced the number of headache days (-33.9%, p < 0.01) and the intake of acute medications (-22.9%, p = 0.03). Disability and quality of life (QoL) scores improved markedly (migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) -41.7%; migraine specific questionnaire (MSQ) -31.7%, p < 0.01). Conclusions The findings suggest that, when administered according to the PREEMPT paradigm, onabotulinum toxin-A is effective in the prevention of high-frequency episodic migraine.

Automated summary

Onabotulinum toxin-A showed significant efficacy in preventing high-frequency episodic migraine, reducing monthly migraine days, headache days, and intake of acute medications, as well as improving disability and quality of life for patients.