Visual snow syndrome is probably not mediated by CGRP: A case series

Cephalalgia. 2022 Oct;42(11-12):1294-1298. doi: 10.1177/03331024221099220. Epub 2022 May 25.

Abstract

Background: Visual snow syndrome is a phenomenon for which no effective treatment is known. It is highly comorbid with migraine, therefore we performed a retrospective chart review of patients with visual snow syndrome treated with a monoclonal antibody against calcitonin gene related peptide or its receptor.

Findings: We enrolled 15 patients with visual snow syndrome who received at least once a monoclonal antibody against calcitonin gene related peptide or its receptor. None of the patients reported relief of visual snow syndrome whereas those patients with comorbid migraine reported a very good efficacy of the antibody against the migraine headache but not against the migraine aura.

Conclusion: The data suggest that visual snow syndrome is not mediated by calcitonin gene related peptide in a relevant way and that the calcitonin gene related peptide receptor is not involved in the network underlying the visual snow syndrome.

Keywords: CGRP antibody; Visual snow syndrome; aura; migraine.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide*
  • Humans
  • Migraine Disorders*
  • Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vision Disorders

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide