Closing remarks: what future prospects can we expect in migraine management?

The future prospects that we can expect in migraine management are both exciting and challenging. Obviously, the future cannot be predicted fully; however, the science related to migraine pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment has increased exponentially over the past two decades and continues to direct future research and clinical care. More than any time in the recent past, it now may be more possible to define better what migraine is and how it relates to other neurological disorders and other diseases. This overview will look at future prospects for management of migraine and how they relate to the migraine diathesis, and ways that might provide a better understanding of how it might be possible to calm the excitable brain. This meeting examined potential future developments in the management of migraine patients, with emphasis on disability, quality of life, and the role of patient personality in episodic and chronic migraine with substance/analgesic overuse. This meeting precedes the main theme of the seminar, which explores the relationships between pain, emotion and headache in light of recent findings, which show that pain and emotion are closely interrelated and contribute to the pathophysiology of headache. Thus, it is important to understand about future migraine management prospects in terms of known migraine pathophysiology, as current data provide support for the concept that migraine is a brain disorder.

Primary and secondary red ear syndrome: implications for treatment.

Approximately 57 patients with red ear syndrome have been reported in the literature since it was initially described in 1994. The clinical phenotype therefore continues to be defined and no consistent treatment response has been described. We report three new cases of red ear syndrome and suggest that the disorder may exist as a primary trigeminal or cervical autonomic cephalalgia, coexist with other rare trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, or may be secondary. The pathogenesis in these different circumstances may be distinct, the triggers specific and, when secondary, the disorder may be more resistant to treatment.

Zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablet is effective in the acute treatment of migraine.

A new formulation of zolmitriptan has been developed that dissolves on the tongue without the need for additional fluid intake. In this double-blind, parallel study, 471 patients were randomized to receive the zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablet 2.5 mg (n=231) or matching placebo (n=240) to treat a single moderate or severe migraine. Headache relief following zolmitriptan 2.5 mg (63%) was significantly greater than with placebo (22%) at 2 h post-dose (primary endpoint; P < 0.0001). The zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablet was also significantly more effective than placebo for 1-, 2- and 4-h pain-free response (8% vs. 3%, P=0.0207, 27% vs. 7%, P < 0.0001, and 37% vs. 11%, P < 0.0001, respectively). Of those patients stating a preference, 70% of patients preferred the orally disintegrating tablet to a conventional tablet. Zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets are an effective and convenient alternative to a conventional tablet, allowing migraine attacks to be treated anytime a migraine strikes, which can facilitate earlier treatment.

Clinical evaluation of a patient presenting with headache.

Evaluation of the headache patient requires a reasonable history and physical examination supported by some knowledge of common headache disorders and their presentations. The diagnostician requires the ability to recognize serious headache disorders based on a working knowledge of the principles of clinical neurology. This article outlines the salient points to consider in the process of headache assessment, based on a clinical overview analysis of the characteristics of several headache disorders.

Decision making in migraine patients taking sumatriptan: an exploratory study.

Until recently, much of the medical and psychological literature has examined and conceptualized the taking of medication from the viewpoint of adherence to or compliance with recommendations from health professionals. However, some authors have argued that medication taking is mostly determined by patient decision making. In order to investigate the factors and processes influencing the patient's decision to take or not take abortive therapy for migraines, 20 migraineurs (according to International Headache Society criteria) were asked, using a semistandardized interview, what factors influenced their decision to take or not take sumatriptan when they had a migraine. Qualitative analysis revealed a 2-stage decision-making process. First, the patient collects information from interoceptive and environmental cues (symptom monitoring) to predict whether the headache that is beginning will become a migraine. Then, if the patient decides it is a migraine, he or she weighs various factors to decide whether to take sumatriptan. These results are consistent with the current cognitive psychology literature on decision-making processes and could lead to significant improvements in understanding the process by which patients make decisions about taking sumatriptan and, ultimately, could lead to better patient education and more effective headache control. They also open a whole new field in the empirical investigation of medication-taking behavior.

Evidence-based migraine therapy: learning needs and knowledge assessment.

One of the primary goals of continuing medical education (CME) is to enhance the learners' performance, and a major goal of evidence-based medicine (EBM) is to improve knowledge of current best care. This paper overviews the use of a Learning Needs and Knowledge Assessment tool to highlight the potential learning needs and knowledge of neurologists and to focus the issues, interest and interactions of neurologists in a workshop on EBM migraine therapy. Virtually all neurologists felt they used evidence-based medicine in their daily practice. Surprisingly, 50% of neurologists agreed that they were uncertain which triptan to use. The great majority of neurologists felt that the triptans were not all equally efficacious. Our survey identified significant knowledge gaps among neurologists regarding how to appraise the validity of evidence from a randomized clinical trial, and with regard to what are the most clinically useful measures of benefit in clinical trials.

Using problem-based learning in neurosciences education for medical students.

BACKGROUND: A Curriculum Task Force proposed problem-based learning as one important educational strategy and recommended changes to a traditional medical curriculum. METHODS: This paper describes how a problem-based learning course in neurosciences was developed and has evolved since its inception in the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. The curriculum planning and design phases are outlined, followed by a description of how the course has been implemented and evaluated. RESULTS: Program evaluation results are presented, describing student performance on examinations and their feedback about the course. CONCLUSION: The authors summarize lessons learned and identify future issues to continue the ongoing development of the course.

Guidelines for the nonpharmacologic management of migraine in clinical practice. Canadian Headache Society.

OBJECTIVE: To provide physicians and allied health care professionals with guidelines for the nonpharmacologic management of migraine in clinical practice. OPTIONS: The full range and quality of nonpharmacologic therapies available for the management of migraine. OUTCOMES: Improvement in the nonpharmacologic management of migraine. EVIDENCE AND VALUES: The creation of the guidelines followed a needs assessment by members of the Canadian Headache Society and included a statement of objectives; development of guidelines by multidisciplinary working groups using information from literature reviews and other resources; comparison of alternative clinical pathways and description of how published data were analysed; definition of the level of evidence for data in each case; evaluation and revision of the guidelines at a consensus conference held in Ottawa on Oct. 27-29, 1995; redrafting and insertion of tables showing key variables and data from various studies and tables of data with recommendations; and reassessment by all conference participants. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: Augmentation of the use of nonpharmacologic therapies for the acute and prophylactic management of migraine is likely to lead to substantial benefits in both human and economic terms. RECOMMENDATIONS: Both the avoidance of migraine trigger factors and the use of nonpharmacologic therapies have a part to play in overall migraine management. VALIDATION: The guidelines are based on consensus of Canadian experts in neurology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, psychology and family medicine, and consumers. Previous guidelines did not exist. Field testing of the guidelines is in progress.

Comparison of problem-based learning and lecture format in continuing medical education on headache diagnosis and management.

The purpose of the study was to compare the impact of continuing medical education for primary care physicians in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, delivered through a problem-based learning (PBL) format with that of a lecture-based format, in the clinical area of headache diagnosis and management. From January to June 1995, 38 physicians participated in three problem-based learning sessions, and 49 in a lecture-based session in the clinical area of headache. Pre- and posttest assessments of knowledge were made of each group before and immediately after the educational sessions. A second evaluation using Key Features Problems (KFP) to measure clinical reasoning was administered to both groups 3 months later. Analysis of covariance between groups on the post-test, using the pre-test result as covariate, showed significantly greater knowledge in the PBL group. Mean post-test KFP scores also were significantly higher for the PBL group. The PBL group's satisfaction with several programme dimensions was significantly higher than that of the lecture group. These results must be viewed in the context of differing amounts of exposure for the two groups. Problem-based learning in continuing medical education in the area of headache management was associated with greater knowledge acquisition and with greater improvement in clinical reasoning skills than in a lecture-based approach. Problem-based learning also was preferred by family physicians. However, the cost-benefit of this approach was questioned, since the PBL group had more exposure. Several factors limit the generalizability of this study, e.g. the impossibility of randomly composing the two experimental groups. Further research is required to determine if the results are generalizable and whether a PBL approach results in change in practice behaviour.

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of migraine in clinical practice. Canadian Headache Society.

OBJECTIVE: To provide physicians and allied health care professionals with guidelines for the diagnosis and management of migraine in clinical practice. OPTIONS: The full range and quality of diagnostic and therapeutic methods available for the management of migraine. OUTCOMES: Improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of migraine, which will lead to a reduction in suffering, increased productivity and decreased economic burden. EVIDENCE AND VALUES: The creation of the guidelines followed a needs assessment by members of the Canadian Headache Society and included a statement of objectives; development of guidelines by multidisciplinary working groups using information from literature reviews and other resources; comparison of alternative clinical pathways and description of how published data were analysed; definition of the level of evidence for data in each case; evaluation and revision of the guidelines at a consensus conference held in Ottawa on Oct. 27-29, 1995; redrafting and insertion of tables showing key variables and data from various studies and tables of data with recommendations; and reassessment by all conference participants. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: Accuracy in diagnosis is a major factor in improving therapeutic effectiveness. Improvement in the precise diagnosis of migraine, coupled with a rational plan for the treatment of acute attacks and for prophylactic therapy, is likely to lead to substantial benefits in both human and economic terms. RECOMMENDATIONS: The diagnosis of migraine can be improved by using modified criteria of the International Headache Society as well as a semistructured patient interview technique. Appropriate treatment of symptoms should take into account the severity of the migraine attack, since most patients will have attacks of differing severity and can learn to use medication appropriate for each attack. When headaches are frequent or particularly severe, prophylactic therapy should be considered. Both the avoidance of migraine trigger factors and the application of nonpharmacological therapies play important roles in overall migraine management and will be addressed at a later date. VALIDATION: The guidelines are based on consensus of Canadian experts in neurology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, psychology, family medicine and pharmacology, and consumers. Previous guidelines did not exist. Field testing of the guidelines is in progress.

Encephalomyeloradiculopathy of infectious or parainfectious etiology--a new entity?

Between 19 March 1990 and 24 December 1992, six persons in Nova Scotia presented with a unique neurological illness. A prodrome of fever and headache was followed by neurogenic bladder, transverse myelitis, and encephalopathy in association with mononuclear pleocytosis of the CSF and nerve-conduction study findings consistent with polyradiculopathy. The spinal cords of three of the patients appeared abnormal on myelograms or magnetic resonance imaging studies. No microbial agent was isolated or demonstrated serologically. All of the patients were treated with antimicrobial agents and corticosteroids. Three recovered completely, but neurogenic bladder persisted in the remaining three. We suggest that this group of patients manifested an encephalomyeloradiculopathy that is likely a new clinical entity of infectious or parainfectious etiology.

Streptococcus bovis meningitis: report of 2 cases.

We describe 2 cases of Streptococcus bovis meningitis and review the 9 cases previously reported. This microorganism is a rare cause of meningitis in which there are no distinctive clinical or laboratory features. The Gram stain of the CSF is usually negative. Ten of the 11 cases had some underlying disease or comorbid condition that predisposed to S bovis infection: gastrointestinal disorder, endocarditis, CSF leak, polymyalgia rheumatica, and mandibular block. Treatment with high-dose penicillin is usually adequate.

Eosinophil-induced neurotoxicity: axonal neuropathy, cerebral infarction, and dementia.

Although beneficial in allergic and parasitic disease, eosinophils exert nonspecific toxic effects upon host tissues, especially the central and peripheral nervous systems. Eosinophil-induced neurotoxicity is characterized by axonal neuropathy, cerebral infarction, and dementia. Eosinophil-derived cytotoxic proteins are fundamental to the pathogenesis of this disorder.

The geriatric headache: a unique clinical ailment.

The "geriatric headache" may be a unique clinical ailment. A change in a chronic headache pattern or a new onset headache should raise suspicion immediately in an elderly patient. Temporal arteritis occurs almost exclusively in the elderly population. Because of its grave prognosis and ease of treatment, this condition should always be considered a possibility in the elderly patient with headache. A throbbing non-migranous headache may indicate an impending cerebrovascular event. Other causes of headache, such as mass lesions (tumours, subdural hematomas), drugs (nitrates, estrogens) and depression, take on greater significance in the elderly. While migraine and cluster headaches are more common in young adults, they may begin in older persons; indeed, transient migraine accompaniments are "TIA mimics". The authors hope that this overview of the "geriatric headache" will facilitate early recognition of this ailment which often leads to diagnostic confusion.