Author: Grazzi L1,2, Tassorelli C3,4, de Tommaso M5, Pierangeli G6, Martelletti P7, Rainero I8, Geppetti P9, Ambrosini A10, Sarchielli P11, Liebler E12, Barbanti P, PRESTO Study Group
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Neuroalgology Unit, Carlo Besta Neurological Institute and Foundation, Milan, Italy. licia.grazzi@istituto-besta.it.
<sup>2</sup>Department of Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, U.O. Neurologia III - Cefalee e Neuroalgologia, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy. licia.grazzi@istituto-besta.it.
<sup>3</sup>Headache Science Centre, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
<sup>4</sup>Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
<sup>5</sup>Neurophysiology and Pain Unit, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
<sup>6</sup>IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
<sup>7</sup>Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
<sup>8</sup>Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
<sup>9</sup>Headache Centre, University Hospital of Careggi, Florence, Italy.
<sup>10</sup>IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy.
<sup>11</sup>Neurologic Clinic, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.
<sup>12</sup>electroCore, Inc, Basking Ridge, NJ, USA.
<sup>13</sup>Headache and Pain Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
Conference/Journal: J Headache Pain.
Date published: 2018 Oct 19
Other:
Volume ID: 19 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 98 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1186/s10194-018-0928-1. , Word Count: 346
BACKGROUND: The PRESTO study of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS; gammaCore®) featured key primary and secondary end points recommended by the International Headache Society to provide Class I evidence that for patients with an episodic migraine, nVNS significantly increases the probability of having mild pain or being pain-free 2 h post stimulation. Here, we examined additional data from PRESTO to provide further insights into the practical utility of nVNS by evaluating its ability to consistently deliver clinically meaningful improvements in pain intensity while reducing the need for rescue medication.
METHODS: Patients recorded pain intensity for treated migraine attacks on a 4-point scale. Data were examined to compare nVNS and sham with regard to the percentage of patients who benefited by at least 1 point in pain intensity. We also assessed the percentage of attacks that required rescue medication and pain-free rates stratified by pain intensity at treatment initiation.
RESULTS: A significantly higher percentage of patients who used acute nVNS treatment (n = 120) vs sham (n = 123) reported a ≥ 1-point decrease in pain intensity at 30 min (nVNS, 32.2%; sham, 18.5%; P = 0.020), 60 min (nVNS, 38.8%; sham, 24.0%; P = 0.017), and 120 min (nVNS, 46.8%; sham, 26.2%; P = 0.002) after the first attack. Similar significant results were seen when assessing the benefit in all attacks. The proportion of patients who did not require rescue medication was significantly higher with nVNS than with sham for the first attack (nVNS, 59.3%; sham, 41.9%; P = 0.013) and all attacks (nVNS, 52.3%; sham, 37.3%; P = 0.008). When initial pain intensity was mild, the percentage of patients with no pain after treatment was significantly higher with nVNS than with sham at 60 min (all attacks: nVNS, 37.0%; sham, 21.2%; P = 0.025) and 120 min (first attack: nVNS, 50.0%; sham, 25.0%; P = 0.018; all attacks: nVNS, 46.7%; sham, 30.1%; P = 0.037).
CONCLUSIONS: This post hoc analysis demonstrated that acute nVNS treatment quickly and consistently reduced pain intensity while decreasing rescue medication use. These clinical benefits provide guidance in the optimal use of nVNS in everyday practice, which can potentially reduce use of acute pharmacologic medications and their associated adverse events.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02686034 .
KEYWORDS: Migraine; Neuromodulation; Pain intensity; Post hoc analysis; Rescue medication; Vagus nerve stimulation
PMID: 30340460 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-018-0928-1