Filling the data gap on CGRP mAb therapy in low- to middle-income countries in Southeast Asia: insights from a real-world study in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Most real-world data on CGRP mAbs have been published from high-income countries such as the USA, Western countries, Japan, Korea, and Singapore. However, data from low- and middle-income countries in Southeast Asia is lacking. This is the first real-world study from Thailand to describe the efficacy of CGRP mAbs therapy in migraine patients and to analyze the response trends between episodic migraine and chronic migraine. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, real-world retrospective chart review study with an observation period of 6 months after CGRP mAbs initiation. We aim to compare treatment responses to CGRP mAbs between EM and CM patients. RESULTS: A total of 47 Thai patients were enrolled (median [IQR] age 37.2 [28.6-50.4] years; 85.1%F, 44.7% EM; 70.2% galcanezumab). There was no difference in baseline characteristics and migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) between EM and CM. The overall ≥ 30%, ≥ 50%, and ≥ 70% monthly migraine day reduction rates at 6 months were 89.0%, 71.6%, and 58.5% with higher responders in EM. There was a significant decrease in monthly headache days (MHDs) over time (adjusted ß = -0.42, p < 0.001) and a significant decrease in MIDAS score over time after the initiation of CGRP mAbs (adjusted ß = -1.12, p = 0.003). However, there were no differences between the two diagnoses. There was no significant decrease in the number of abortive medication pills used over time after the initiation of CGRP mAbs. CM had a significantly steeper trend compared to those with EM. CONCLUSION: The first real-world study in Thailand demonstrated that CGRP mAbs therapy had efficacy for migraine treatment, as evidenced by a reduction in MHDs, decreased disability, and reduced use of abortive medications. Additionally, the response pattern to CGRP mAbs therapy was similar between EM and CM in terms of MHDs reduction and MIDAS score improvement.

A SUNCT-like headache associated with lateral pontine infarction - case series and systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) and autonomic symptoms (SUNA) are trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs). The study explores the potential association between SUNCT/SUNA-like headaches and lateral pontine infarctions. METHODS: Case series and systematic review. RESULTS: We present three cases diagnosed with SUNCT following lateral pontine infarction on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), along with a review of these cases and 10 others from the literature. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This review suggests a connection between SUNCT/SUNA-like symptoms and lateral pontine infarctions. The section also delves into the anatomy and pathophysiology of these symptoms, proposing a mechanism involving neural pathway remodelling in the lateral brainstem.

Hand knob sign in osmotic demyelinating syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Osmotic demyelinating syndrome, commonly recognized as a consequence of the rapid correction of hyponatremia, has been known to cause motor, neuropsychiatric, or extrapyramidal symptoms. We reported a patient with an unusual presentation involving bilateral hand weakness, and pseudobulbar affect. The imaging was compatible with osmotic demyelinating syndrome with bilateral hand knob lesions, despite no history of overcorrection of hyponatremia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old female presented with three weeks of emotional lability, spastic dysarthria, and bilateral hand weakness following ankle surgery and a mild head injury. Physical examination revealed weakness in the intrinsic hand muscles, leading to a claw-like deformity of the hands, although sensation remained unimpaired. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed several hyperintensities on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging involving various areas, including the hand knob area of the bilateral precentral gyri, caudate, lentiform nuclei, and pons, suggestive of osmotic demyelinating syndrome. Clinical improvement was observed following a trial of intravenous pulse methylprednisolone and plasmapheresis. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral hand weakness is an unusual manifestation of osmotic demyelinating syndrome. The precentral gyrus, specifically in the hand knob area, is the vulnerable region that can result from osmotic demyelinating syndrome.

A transformation of trigeminal neuralgia into SUNCT/SUNA: A case report and literature review / Uma transformação da neuralgia do trigêmeo em SUNCT/SUNA: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

Introduction: Trigeminal neuralgia and Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache with Conjunctival injection and Tearing (SUNCT)/Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache Attacks with Cranial Autonomic Symptoms (SUNA) are characterized by similar clinical manifestations, which may lead to diagnostic confusion. However, the transformation of trigeminal neuralgia into SUNCT/SUNA is a rare phenomenon. This report describes a case of trigeminal neuralgia transformation into SUNCT/SUNA due to neurovascular compression and reviews all previously published cases of trigeminal neuralgia to SUNCT/SUNA transformation in the literature. Case presentation: A 49-year-old Thai male patient presented with progressive right facial pain for a period of three months. One year prior, he developed trigeminal neuralgia along the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve, characterized by electrical shock-like pain in the right upper molar, exacerbated by eating. His symptoms were effectively managed with carbamazepine. Nine months later, he began experiencing recurrent electrical shock-like pain along the ophthalmic division of the right trigeminal nerve, accompanied by lacrimation, which failed to respond to continued treatment with carbamazepine. Three months prior to presentation, his symptoms evolved into SUNCT/SUNA, characterized by electrical shock-like pain in the right periorbital area and conjunctival injection, lacrimation. Neuroimaging revealed high-grade neurovascular compression of the right trigeminal nerve by the right superior cerebellar artery. The patient's symptoms resolved following microvascular decompression. Conclusion: Clinicians should be aware that patients with longer disease duration of trigeminal neuralgia who develop new neuralgic pain in the ophthalmic branch division with mild autonomic symptoms may be at risk for transformation into SUNCT/SUNA.

Introduction: Trigeminal neuralgia and Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache with Conjunctival injection and Tearing (SUNCT)/Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache Attacks with Cranial Autonomic Symptoms (SUNA) are characterized by similar clinical manifestations, which may lead to diagnostic confusion. However, the transformation of trigeminal neuralgia into SUNCT/SUNA is a rare phenomenon. This report describes a case of trigeminal neuralgia transformation into SUNCT/SUNA due to neurovascular compression and reviews all previously published cases of trigeminal neuralgia to SUNCT/SUNA transformation in the literature. Case presentation: A 49-year-old Thai male patient presented with progressive right facial pain for a period of three months. One year prior, he developed trigeminal neuralgia along the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve, characterized by electrical shock-like pain in the right upper molar, exacerbated by eating. His symptoms were effectively managed with carbamazepine. Nine months later, he began experiencing recurrent electrical shock-like pain along the ophthalmic division of the right trigeminal nerve, accompanied by lacrimation, which failed to respond to continued treatment with carbamazepine. Three months prior to presentation, his symptoms evolved into SUNCT/SUNA, characterized by electrical shock-like pain in the right periorbital area and conjunctival injection, lacrimation. Neuroimaging revealed high-grade neurovascular compression of the right trigeminal nerve by the right superior cerebellar artery. The patient's symptoms resolved following microvascular decompression. Conclusion: Clinicians should be aware that patients with longer disease duration of trigeminal neuralgia who develop new neuralgic pain in the ophthalmic branch division with mild autonomic symptoms may be at risk for transformation into SUNCT/SUNA