Migraine Disorders

Background: Many treatments for abdominal pain-related disorders of gut-brain interaction (AP-DGBI) in children have been studied. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of all known treatment options for paediatric AP-DGBI.

Methods: For this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched Embase, MEDLINE, and CENTRAL databases from inception to Jan 16, 2025, for published randomised controlled trials. We included trials of any treatment for AP-DGBIs (irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain-not otherwise specified, and abdominal migraine, excluding functional dyspepsia) in children aged 4-18 years. We excluded randomised controlled trials that solely included children with functional dyspepsia, but we included studies in which children with functional dyspepsia were included alongside children with the other AP-DGBI diagnoses and outcome data could not be separated. Data extraction and quality appraisal were performed in duplicate. The primary outcome for this network meta-analysis was author-defined treatment success. Network meta-analysis methodology was used within a frequentist framework using multivariate meta-analysis and outcomes were assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Clinical relevance of effect sizes was interpreted according to consensus definitions.

Findings: Of 19 337 records identified through the database search, 155 records representing 91 original randomised controlled trials were included in the network meta-analysis: these 91 trials comprised 7226 participants (4119 females and 2673 males). 12 studies assessed dietary treatments (n=730), 25 assessed pharmacological treatments (n=2140), 23 assessed probiotic treatments (n=1762), and 35 assessed psychosocial treatments (n=2952). Two treatments were probably more effective for treatment success than control treatments (moderate certainty): hypnotherapy (risk ratio [RR] 4·99 [95% CI 2·15 to 11·57]; large effect size) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT; RR 1·99 [95% CI 1·33 to 2·98]; moderate effect size). All other treatments evaluated for treatment success were either not effective or the data were of very low certainty and thus no conclusions could be made.

Interpretation: Hypnotherapy and CBT show moderate certainty for treatment efficacy with clinically relevant effect sizes. No conclusions can be made about the other therapies and treatment success due to very low evidence certainty. Future randomised controlled trials should focus on improving the evidence certainty for those other therapies with regard to core AP-DGBI outcomes.

Funding: None.

Author/s:

Vasiliki Sinopoulou, Jip Groen, Morris Gordon, Ed Mougey, James P Franciosi, Tim G J de Meij, Merit M Tabbers, Marc A Benninga

Diagnosis and acute management of migraine

Aubrey Delammermore — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

February 8, 2023

Journal/Publication:

CMAJ

Publisher:

CMA Impact Inc

Publication Date:

January 30, 2023

Issue:

Volume:

195

Pages:

E153-E158

URL:

Diagnosis and acute management of migraine

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1503/cmaj.211969

Keywords

PMID (1):

36717129

MeSH

Humans

Migaine Disorders* / diagnosis

Migraine disorders* / therapy

Migraine Disorders

Cardiovascular Disease

A concise review of the presumed cause and treatment of migraine headaches. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Migraine is a leading cause of disability across all age groups.
• Routine imaging is not recommended in patients with migraine
who have no red flags, atypical symptoms or abnormal findings
on neurologic examination.
• A stratified approach for acute migraine treatment empowers
patients to choose from different treatment options
depending on attack symptoms and severity and encourages
patients to combine medications from different classes.
• Effective acute migraine treatment includes acetaminophen,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and triptans.
• Ubrogepant and rimegepant are new, effective migraine
treatments, suitable for patients with cardiovascular disease in
whom triptans are contraindicated.

Author/s:

Tzankova, V., Becker, W. J., Chan, T. L. H.

Transient ischemic attack and minor stroke: diagnosis, risk stratification and management

Aubrey Delammermore — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

January 28, 2023

Journal/Publication:

CMAJ

Publisher:

CMA Impact

Publication Date:

October 11, 2022

Issue:

Volume:

194

Pages:

E1344-E1349

URL:

Transient ischemic attack and minor stroke: diagnosis, risk stratification and management

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1503/cmaj.220344

Keywords

PMID (1):

36220167

MeSH

ischemic attack, transient

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

antihypertensive agents

Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors

anticoagulants

Evidence-based guidance for evaluation and management of patients with suspected transient ischemic attack. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Patients with suspected cerebral ischemia should be urgently assessed to distinguish between transient ischemic attack (TIA), minor stroke or mimics such as migraine, seizure, vertigo or syncope.

The Canadian TIA Score can be used to determine risk for early subsequent stroke in patients with a suspected TIA or minor stroke.

All patients with TIA or minor stroke should undergo urgent electrocardiography and computed tomography of the head.

Clinicians should order early vascular imaging for patients at moderate or high risk of subsequent stroke; urgent revascularization should be considered if there is more than 50% arterial stenosis congruent with symptom presentation.

Clinicians should prescribe dual antiplatelet drugs for high-risk patients, single antiplatelet agents for low-risk patients or direct oral anticoagulants for patients with atrial fibrillation.

All patients with TIA or minor stroke should be counselled about modifiable lifestyle factors (including smoking cessation), be treated with statins and take steps toward optimizing blood pressure, including treatment with antihypertensive drugs, if necessary.

Author/s:

Perry, J. J., Yadav, K., Syed, S., Shamy, M.