Monoclonal anti-CGRP antibodies in post-menopausal women: a real-life study

IntroductionMigraine usually ameliorates after menopause. However, 10-29% of women still experience migraine attacks after menopause, especially if menopause is surgical. The use of monoclonal antibodies against the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is changing the landscape of migraine treatment. This study aims to explore the effectiveness and safety of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in women in menopause.MethodsWomen affected by either migraine or chronic migraine and treated with an anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody for up to 1 year. Visits were scheduled every 3 months.ResultsWomen in menopause displayed a similar response compared to women of childbearing age. Among women in menopause, the women experiencing surgical menopause seemed to exhibit a similar response compared to the ones experiencing physiological menopause. Erenumab and galcanezumab displayed similar effectiveness in women in menopause. No serious adverse events were registered.DiscussionThe effectiveness of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies is almost the same between women in menopause and women of childbearing age, without appreciable differences between the different antibodies.