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Angiotensin II receptor blockers: a new possible treatment for chronic migraine?

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Abstract

The objective is to suggest a possible role of different angiotensin receptor blockers in the treatment of chronic migraine, especially in hypertensive subjects. Chronic migraine is a highly disabling disorder affecting between 1.4 and 2.2 % of the general population. Despite many pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments proposed, the results are rather discouraging. Therefore, we believe that should be highlighted all the possible therapies that may lead to an improvement of the symptomatology. Particularly, data available on efficacy of ARBs in preventing chronic migraine are poor. Methods include case reports, literature review and discussion. We report three cases recently treated with angiotensin II receptor blockers that showed a significant improvement, never previously presented with more conventional treatments, including beta blockers. In all three cases, we obtained the reversibility from a chronic migraine to an episodic. Taking a cue from this observation, we consider desirable large controlled, randomized trials to assess the effectiveness of ARBs both in CM hypertensive patients and in patients who do not require anti-hypertensive therapy; furthermore are desirable comparative studies between the various ARB inhibitors to assay any intermolecular differences in efficacy.

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Conflict of interest

The principal author also declares that there is no conflict of interest.

Compliance with ethical standards

The principal author takes full responsibility for the data presented in this study, analysis of the data, conclusions, and conduct of the research.

Patient consent was obtained for the publication of case reports and data have been omitted which could lead to a recognition of the patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Headache Centre, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy

    Caterina Disco, Ferdinando Maggioni & Giorgio Zanchin

Authors
  1. Caterina Disco
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  2. Ferdinando Maggioni
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  3. Giorgio Zanchin
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Correspondence to Caterina Disco.

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Disco, C., Maggioni, F. & Zanchin, G. Angiotensin II receptor blockers: a new possible treatment for chronic migraine?. Neurol Sci 36, 1483–1485 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-015-2217-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-015-2217-y

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