Erenumab, a monoclonal antibody acting on the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor, is an effective and safe migraine-specific preventive drug. The use of migraine-specific preventive drugs paves the way for a novel method to study migraine pathogenesis. Migraine is a complex disorder with several genetic and epigenetic influence, including that of microRNA. Several microRNAs, including those of inflammation and of endothelial function, have high expression levels in subjects with migraine; however, the findings of the available studies are insufficient to provide epigenetic biomarkers for migraine. Besides, little evidence is available on the role of migraine preventive treatments in the expression of microRNA. The study aims at evaluating the expression profiles of microRNAs before and after erenumab treatment prescribed according to clinical indication. The study will include women with episodic or chronic migraine treated with erenumab 140 mg monthly according to the Summary of Product Characteristics and local reimbursement criteria. The study will compare the expression profile of microRNAs in women with episodic and chronic migraine; besides, it will investigate differences in migraine-associated microRNA expression according to age, migraine characteristics, pain intensity, response to erenumab, migraine-related impact and disability.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Blood samples will be collected and analyzed for the microRNA profile by means of microfluidic cards
University of L'Aquila
L’Aquila, Italy
Fold changes in microRNA serum concentration - Episodic migraine
Relative quantification of circulating microRNAs expression changes in women with episodic migraine after a 3-month treatment with erenumab with respect to pre-treatment. Data will be obtained by real-time polymerase chain reaction on microfluidic cards. Details on tested microRNAs are provided at the following link: https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/GSD/Reference-Materials/tac-advanced-miRNA-assay-list.xlsx
Time frame: 3 months per each patient
Fold changes in microRNA serum concentration - Chronic migraine
Relative quantification of circulating microRNAs expression changes in women with chronic migraine after a 3-month treatment with erenumab with respect to pre-treatment. Data will be obtained by real-time polymerase chain reaction on microfluidic cards. Details on tested microRNAs are provided at the following link: https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/GSD/Reference-Materials/tac-advanced-miRNA-assay-list.xlsx
Time frame: 3 months per each patient
Baseline comparison between episodic and chronic migraine
Relative quantification of microRNA expression levels at baseline in women with chronic compared with episodic migraine. Data will be obtained by real-time polymerase chain reaction on microfluidic cards. Details on tested microRNAs are provided at the following link: https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/GSD/Reference-Materials/tac-advanced-miRNA-assay-list.xlsx
Time frame: Baseline
Subgroup analyses
Subgroup analyses of patients stratified according to age, migraine characteristics, response to erenumab, and migraine-related impact and disability. Data will be obtained by real-time polymerase chain reaction on microfluidic cards. Details on tested microRNAs are provided at the following link: https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/GSD/Reference-Materials/tac-advanced-miRNA-assay-list.xlsx
Time frame: 3 months per each patient
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