Neurology and Therapeutics

Biography

Biography: Cristina Pellegrino Baena

Abstract

Some studies designed to analyze acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and cardiovascular outcomes reported a protective effect of ASA on chronic migraine. However evidence isn't clear about ASA as a prophylactic agent to migraine. We sought to summarize and analyze evidence on ASA and chronic migraine. Searches in different databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo) were conducted for interventions comparing ASA to control in adult populations. Two reviewers selected the articles that met the selection criteria. Disagreements were solved by consensus. Data were extracted about study, population, intervention (dosage, follow up and combined treatment), outcomes (frequency, severity and duration) and quality was evaluated with the Cochrane’s tool. Reported associations were distributed in Harvest Plots, according to outcome, quality and direction of reported associations. We found 458 studies and seven met the selection criteria. A total of 28,326 participants, with ages from 18 to 64 years (96% men). Quality scores ranged from 12 to 16 of 18. Dosages were heterogeneous (100 mg every other day to 650 mg daily). Follow-up from 2 to 72 months. Lack of standardization in units of outcomes and dosage hampered a formal meta-analysis. Regarding frequency, most of the high quality studies (6/7) reported ASA reducing frequency of migraine episodes. Regarding severity and duration most studies (4/5 and 3/4) did not find significant association. Available evidence shows ASA significantly reducing frequency of migraine episodes but not severity or intensity. Future studies designed to analyze ASA and migraine should focus on women, dose response relationship and potential mechanisms.