Differences in circulating alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in inflammatory bowel disease and its relation to migraine comorbidity: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the specificity of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels, we measured alpha-CGRP circulating levels in a large series of patients with a recent diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who were interviewed regarding comorbid headache. BACKGROUND: Several studies have found an association between migraine and IBD. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study performed in an IBD clinic, morning serum alpha-CGRP levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 96 patients who were recently diagnosed with IBD and compared to those from 50 similar patients with chronic migraine (CM) and 50 healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: Alpha-CGRP levels were higher in patients with IBD (median [interquartile range] 56.9 [35.6-73.9] pg/mL) and patients with CM (53.0 [36.7-73.9] pg/mL) compared to HC (37.2 [30.0-51.8] pg/mL; p = 0.003; p = 0.019, respectively). Regarding IBD diagnostic subtypes, alpha-CGRP levels for ulcerative colitis (67.2 ± 49.3 pg/mL; 57.0 [35.6-73.4] pg/mL) and Crohn's disease (54.9 ± 27.5 pg/mL; 57.7 [29.1-76.1] pg/mL) were significantly higher than those of HC (p = 0.013, p = 0.040, respectively). Alpha-CGRP levels were further different in patients with IBD with migraine (70.9 [51.8-88.7] pg/mL) compared to HC (p < 0.001), patients with IBD without headache (57.5 [33.3-73.8] pg/mL; p = 0.049), and patients with IBD with tension-type headache but without migraine (41.7 [28.5-66.9] pg/mL; p = 0.004), though alpha-CGRP levels in patients with IBD without migraine (53.7 [32.9-73.5] pg/mL) remained different over HC (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Together with CM, circulating alpha-CGRP levels are different in patients with IBD, perhaps reflecting a chronic inflammatory state. IBD is an example of how alpha-CGRP levels are not a totally specific migraine biomarker. However, alpha-CGRP levels were further increased in patients with IBD who have a history of migraine, which reinforces its role as a biomarker in migraine patients, always bearing in mind their comorbidities.

Redefining migraine prevention: early treatment with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies enhances response in the real world.

BACKGROUND: Anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies (anti-CGRP MAbs) are approved and available treatments for migraine prevention. Patients do not respond alike and many countries have reimbursement policies, which hinder treatments to those who might respond. This study aimed to investigate clinical factors associated with good and excellent response to anti-CGRP MAbs at 6 months. METHODS: European multicentre, prospective, real-world study, including high-frequency episodic or chronic migraine (CM) patients treated since March 2018 with anti-CGRP MAbs. We defined good and excellent responses as ≥50% and ≥75% reduction in monthly headache days (MHD) at 6 months, respectively. Generalised mixed-effect regression models (GLMMs) were used to identify variables independently associated with treatment response. RESULTS: Of the 5818 included patients, 82.3% were females and the median age was 48.0 (40.0-55.0) years. At baseline, the median of MHD was 20.0 (14.0-28.0) days/months and 72.2% had a diagnosis of CM. At 6 months (n=4963), 56.5% (2804/4963) were good responders and 26.7% (1324/4963) were excellent responders. In the GLMM model, older age (1.08 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.15), p=0.016), the presence of unilateral pain (1.39 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.60), p<0.001), the absence of depression (0.840 (95% CI 0.731 to 0.966), p=0.014), less monthly migraine days (0.923 (95% CI 0.862 to 0.989), p=0.023) and lower Migraine Disability Assessment at baseline (0.874 (95% CI 0.819 to 0.932), p<0.001) were predictors of good response (AUC of 0.648 (95% CI 0.616 to 0.680)). These variables were also significant predictors of excellent response (AUC of 0.691 (95% CI 0.651 to 0.731)). Sex was not significant in the GLMM models. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest real-world study of migraine patients treated with anti-CGRP MAbs. It provides evidence that higher migraine frequency and greater disability at baseline reduce the likelihood of responding to anti-CGRP MAbs, informing physicians and policy-makers on the need for an earlier treatment in order to offer the best chance of treatment success.

Untangling the mess of CGRP levels as a migraine biomarker: an in-depth literature review and analysis of our experimental experience.

BACKGROUND: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is the most promising candidate to become the first migraine biomarker. However, literature shows clashing results and suggests a methodological source for such discrepancies. We aimed to investigate some of these methodological factors to evaluate the actual role of CGRP as biomarker. METHODS: Previous to the experimental part, we performed a literature review of articles measuring CGRP in migraine patients. Using our 399 bio-bank sera samples, we performed a series of experiments to test the validity of different ELISA kits employed, time of sample processing, long-term storage, sampling in rest or after moderate exercise. Analysis of in-house data was performed to analyse average levels of the peptide and the effect of sex and age. RESULTS: Literature review shows the high variability in terms of study design, determination methods, results and conclusions obtained by studies including CGRP determinations in migraine patients. CGRP measurements depends on the method and specific kit employed, also on the isoform detected, showing completely different ranges of concentrations. Alpha-CGRP and beta-CGRP had median with IQR levels of 37.5 (28.2-54.4) and 4.6 (2.4-6.4)pg/mL, respectively. CGRP content is preserved in serum within the 24 first hours when samples are stored at 4°C after clotting and immediate centrifugation. Storages at -80°C of more than 6 months result in a decrease in CGRP levels. Moderate exercise prior to blood extraction does not modulate the concentration of the peptide. Age positively correlates with beta-CGRP content and men have higher alpha-CGRP levels than women. CONCLUSIONS: We present valuable information for CGRP measurements in serum. ELISA kit suitability should be tested prior to the experiments. Alpha and beta-CGRP levels should be analysed separately as they can show different behaviours even within the same condition. Samples can be processed in a 24-h window if they have been kept in 4°C and should not be stored for more than 6 months at -80°C before assayed. Patients do not need to rest before the blood extraction unless they have performed a high-endurance exercise. For comparative studies, sex and age should be accounted for as these parameters can impact CGRP concentrations.

Increased prevalence of migraine in women with inflammatory bowel disease: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have suggested an association between migraine and inflammatory bowel disease. We determined migraine prevalence in a cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease aged 18-65 years were interviewed using an ad hoc headache questionnaire. Those who admitted a history of headache in the last year answered the three questions of the ID-Migraine questionnaire. Those who answered "yes" to the three of them were classified as "definite" and those who answered "yes" to two were classified as "probable" migraine. RESULTS: We interviewed 283 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Of these, 176 (62.2%) had headache. Fifty-nine (20.8%; 95% CI 16.3-26.0%) met migraine criteria either definite (n = 33; 11.7%; 95% CI 8.2-16.0%) or probable (n = 26; 9.2%; 95% CI 6.1-13.2). When divided by gender, 12 men (9.6%; 95% CI 5.1-16.2%) and 47 women (29.8%; 95% CI 22.8-37.5%) met migraine criteria. The prevalence of migraine was increased in inflammatory bowel disease patients from the current cohort (20.8%) versus that reported for our general population for the same age group (12.6%; p < 0.0001). These differences remained significant in female inflammatory bowel disease patients (29.8% versus 17.2% in our general population; p < 0.0001), but not in males (9.6% in inflammatory bowel disease vs 8.0%; p = 0.30). Seventeen patients with inflammatory bowel disease (6.0%; 95% CI 3.54-9.44%) fulfilled chronic migraine criteria. There were no differences in migraine prevalence by inflammatory bowel disease subtypes. CONCLUSION: Migraine prevalence, including chronic migraine, seems to be increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The fact that this association was stronger for women suggests an influence of sex-related factors.

Serum Alpha and Beta-CGRP Levels in Chronic Migraine Patients Before and After Monoclonal Antibodies Against CGRP or its Receptor.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of alpha and beta-CGRP circulating levels throughout CGRP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) treatment in patients with chronic migraine (CM). METHODS: We recruited patients with CM beginning mAbs along with sex and age paired healthy controls (HCs). Blood was extracted before, 2 weeks (M0.5) and 3 months (M3) after the first dose of mAbs, always in free-migraine periods, and once for HCs. Alpha and beta-CGRP serum levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) specific for each isoform. RESULTS: Baseline alpha-CGRP levels were significantly elevated in 103 patients with CM (median = 50.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 40.5-57.0 pg/ml) compared to 78 HCs (median = 37.5, 95% CI = 33.9-45.0 pg/ml; 95% CI of differences = 2.85-17.08 pg/ml) and significantly decreased (n = 96) over the course of mAb treatment (M0.5: median = 40.4, 95% CI = 35.6-48.2 pg/ml; and M3: median = 40.9, 95% CI = 36.3-45.9 pg/ml). Absolute decrease of alpha-CGRP throughout the treatment positively correlated with the decrease in MMDs. Negative modulation of alpha-CGRP significantly associated with positive scores at the Patient Global Impression of Change scale and with analgesic overuse reversal. Beta-CGRP did not differ at baseline between patients with CM (median = 4.2, 95% CI = 3.0-4.8 pg/ml) and HCs (median = 4.4, 95% CI = 3.4-5.6 pg/ml; -1.09 to 0.60) nor was modulated by mAb treatment (n = 96; M0.5: median = 4.5, 95% CI = 3.5-5.2 pg/ml; and M3: median = 4.6, 95% CI = 3.7-5.2 pg/ml). INTERPRETATION: Treatment with mAbs, regardless of its target, is able to progressively normalize basally increased alpha-CGRP levels in CM and this effect correlates with efficacy measures, which supports a role of this neuropeptide as the first CM biomarker. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:285-294.

Serum alpha-CGRP levels are increased in COVID-19 patients with headache indicating an activation of the trigeminal system.

BACKGROUND: Headache is among the most frequent symptoms of acute COVID-19 infection. Its mechanisms remain obscure, but due to its migraine-like characteristics, the activation of the trigeminal system could account for its underlying pathophysiology. METHODS: Our aim was to compare the serum levels of CGRP, as a theoretical marker of trigemino-vascular activation, in 25 COVID-19 inpatients with lung involvement experiencing headache, against 15 COVID-19 inpatients without headache and with those of 25 matched healthy controls with no headache history. RESULTS: Morning serum alpha-CGRP levels, as measured by ELISA (Abbexa, UK), were increased in COVID-19 patients with headache (55.2±34.3 pg/mL) vs. controls (33.9±14.0 pg/mL) (p < 0.01). Alpha-CGRP levels in COVID-19 patients without headache were also significantly increased (43.3 ± 12.8 pg/mL; p = 0.05) versus healthy controls, but were numerically lower (-28.2%; p = 0.36) as compared to COVID-19 patients with headache. CONCLUSION: CGRP levels are increased in COVID-19 patients experiencing headache in the acute phase of this disease, which could explain why headache frequently occurs in COVID-19 and strongly supports a role for trigeminal activation in the pathophysiology of headache in this viral infection.

Serum Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide α and ß Levels are Increased in COVID-19 Inpatients.

BACKGROUND: Vasoactive peptides play an important role in a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. Due to its known functions, the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been suggested as a possible modulator of the hyperimmune response in COVID-19 and thus, blocking its action may lessen the pulmonary effects of COVID-19. AIM OF THE STUDY: To compare the circulating levels of CGRPα and CGRPß in healthy controls compared to hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The study also analyzed how different comorbidities and treatments may affect these concentrations in cases of COVID-19 infection with pulmonary involvement METHODS: Serum samples were collected from the antecubital vein of 51 control subjects (mean age = 55 ± 14 years; range = 26-77; 56.9% female) and 52 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection (mean age = 55 ± 13; range = 23-77; 55.8% female) from December 2020 to May 2021. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used for CGRPα (Abbexa, UK) and CGRPß (CUSABIO, China) measurements. Comorbidities, symptoms, and treatments of infection were listed. RESULTS: The results showed that the serum levels of both isoforms of CGRP were significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 (α: 57.9 ± 35.8 pg/mL; ß: 6.1 ± 2.6 pg/mL) compared to controls (α: 41.8 ± 25.4 pg/mL; ß: 4.5 ± 2.4 pg/mL) (p <0.01). Also, the presence of arterial hypertension (HT), obesity, or corticosteroid treatment significantly alter the serum concentration of CGRPα in the subgroups compared to controls. CONCLUSION: The elevated serum CGRP levels found in our COVID-19 group compared to controls may suggest that CGRP plays a role in the pathophysiology of the disease, more specifically, in the cytokine storm and in the pulmonary involvement. Future studies should focus on the source of this CGRP elevation.