The following is a summary of “Calcitonin gene-related peptide causes migraine aura,” published in the September 2023 issue of Pain by Al-Khazali et al.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is involved in migraine, but its role in migraine aura is poorly understood. Researchers started a retrospective study to investigate the potential of CGRP to trigger aura in the early stages of migraine.

They conducted an open-label, non-randomized, single-arm trial involving 34 participants who had migraine with aura. These participants received a continuous intravenous infusion of CGRP (1.5 µg/min) over 20 minutes on a single experimental day. Requirements included being headache-free and not using acute medications for 24 hours before the start of the infusion. CGRP’s role in early migraine stages, like aura, indicates potential for new treatment targets.

The results showed that 38% (13 out of 34) of participants experienced migraine aura after CGRP infusion. Furthermore, 71% (24 out of 34) of participants developed migraine headaches following CGRP infusion.

Investigators concluded that CGRP may play an essential role in the early stages of migraine, including aura, suggesting new therapeutic targets.

Source: thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-023-01656-4