Cluster headache is a primary headache disorder characterized by attacks of unilateral headache of short duration and severe pain intensity. There is an unmet need to understand the underlying disease mechanisms that will ultimately lead to the development of disease-specific medicines. Until now, it has been suggested that the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays a major role in the initiation of a cluster headache attack, possibly involving the ATP-sensitive potassium channels. The current study aims to determine whether the opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channels triggers cluster headache attacks in patients with cluster headache.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
41
12 active episodic patients, 15 episodic patients in remission and 20 chronic patients of both genders are randomized to receive a 20-minute infusion of levcromakalim and/or sterile saline on two days, with at least 3 days in between.
12 active episodic patients, 15 episodic patients in remission and 20 chronic patients of both genders are randomized to receive a 20-minute infusion of levcromakalim and/or sterile saline on two days, with at least 3 days in between.
Danish Headache Center
Glostrup Municipality, Copenhagen, Denmark
Occurrence of cluster headache attacks
Experimentally induced cluster headache attacks must fulfill either: 1. Headache described as mimicking the patient's usual cluster headache attack (with or without cephalic autonomic symptom). 2. Headache fulfilling criteria A and B for cluster headache according to International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria: A. Severe unilateral pain lasting 15 to 180 minutes. B. Either or both of the following: * At least 1 cephalic autonomic symptom ipsilateral to the headache. * A sense of restlessness or agitation.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 90 minutes after drug administration
Occurrence of headache
Yes/no questions.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 90 minutes after drug administration
Change of headache intensity scores
Headache intensity scores are measured by a numerical rating scale (NRS). It is a verbally declared scale from 0 to 10, where 0 is no headache; 1 is a very mild headache, including a feeling of pressing or throbbing; 5 is a moderate headache; 10 is the worst imaginable headache.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 90 minutes after drug administration
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