Clinical trial NCT01138150
Conditions: Migraine
Keywords: migraine, headache, sumatriptan, naproxen sodium
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Start date: 2009-09-01; Completion date: 2013-06-01
Enrollment: 36 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate blood levels of several proteins that may be altered in the inflammation associated with migraine headaches. These blood levels will be evaluated in individuals during an acute migraine attack and compared to their levels when pain free. The investigators study hypothesis is that the pro inflammatory proteins in the blood will be greater than the levels of these proteins when evaluated during a pain free period.

Detailed description:
Migraine is a common, chronic disorder, which presents with recurrent episodes of disabling headache and affects approximately 12% of American adults.1,2 No biomarkers exist to identify episodic or chronic migraine sufferers; and the diagnosis relies solely on clinical criteria. Further the full pathophysiology of migraine has not been fully delineated, although our understanding of migraine pathophysiology has dramatically improved over the past 15 years. Current theories suggest that migraine is a neurovascular disorder, with the pain of migraine a result of the release of inflammatory neuropeptides from nerve endings in the activated trigeminal system (neurogenic inflammation), ultimately resulting in vasodilation, plasma extravasation and mast cell degranulation.3-6 Several inflammatory markers have been implicated in the pathway resulting in the neurogenic inflammation of migraine including calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), neurokinin A, and multiple cytokines such as interleukin (IL) -1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis-α (TNF-α).5,7-10 More recent research supports that the odds of migraine are increased in those who are obese and that several adipose tissue derived cytokines (adipocytokines) may contribute to the neurogenic inflammation of migraine, including leptin and adiponectin. In one small pilot study of 33 participants evaluating chronic and episodic migraineurs as compared to controls, adiponectin (an adipocytokine) was significantly elevated in chronic migraineurs as compared to controls. A second study reported low levels of another adipocytokine, leptin in episodic migraineurs. However, all of these studies have evaluated only 3 to 4 of cytokines at the same time point and 11 none have evaluated adipocytokines during an acute attack. We hypothesize that obesity-related cytokines contribute to the neurogenic inflammation of migraine and have the potential be useful as biomarkers for episodic and chronic migraine as well as new drug targets for the treatment of migraine. To this end we propose to evaluate serum levels of obesity-related cytokines in migraineurs, ictally (during an acute migraine attack), following treatment with sumatriptan/naproxen sodium (Treximet®) and interictally (at baseline) when pain free.

Arms: arm 1: Fourteen participants randomized to receive Treximet (sumatriptan \& naproxen) during an acute migraine attack. Blood drawn for immune \& inflammatory markers (adipocytokines,cytokines, sex hormones) at different time points - on presentation with moderate to severe migraine pain; then 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours after administration of study drug (Treximet).

Participants will be offered a traditional headache rescue medicine at 2 hours after administration of Treximet if participant still reports moderate to severe pain and desires further treatment. Rescue medicine may include the following: prochlorperazine 10 mg IV preceded by diphenhydramine 25 mg IV/PO or metoclopramide 10 mg IV preceded by diphenhydramine 25 mg IV/PO or Toradol 30 mg IV to be determined by the physician. arm 2: Fourteen participants randomized to receive placebo during an acute migraine attack. Blood is drawn for immune \& inflammatory markers (adipocytokines,cytokines), sex hormones at different time points - on presentation with moderate to severe migraine pain, then 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours after administration of placebo.

Participants will be offered a traditional headache rescue medicine at 2 hours after administration of placebo if participant still reports moderate to severe pain and desires further treatment. Rescue medicine may include the following: prochlorperazine 10 mg IV preceded by diphenhydramine 25 mg IV/PO or metoclopramide 10 mg IV preceded by diphenhydramine 25 mg IV/PO or Toradol 30 mg IV to be determined by the physician.
Interventions: intervention 1: Treximet intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: One tablet of sumatriptan 85 mg and naproxen sodium 500 mg will be given upon subject presentation with an acute migraine attack and after blood levels have been drawn. intervention 2: One tablet of a sugar pill will be given upon subject presentation with an acute migraine attack and after blood levels have been drawn.

Protocol documents: