Eptinezumab for adolescents with chronic refractory headache: A retrospective chart review

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of eptinezumab for the treatment of chronic refractory headache in adolescents.

Background: Chronic refractory headache can lead to school absences and impaired quality of life in adolescents, and currently there are no pharmacologic treatments with level A evidence for headache prevention for this population. While observational data suggest that monoclonal antibodies to calcitonin gene-related peptide or its receptor may be helpful for adolescents who have refractory primary headache disorders, evidence is lacking for the use of eptinezumab.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective chart review. Demographic and headache phenotypic data were collected. Outcome measures included headache intensity and frequency pre- and post-infusion(s), and improvement in function or in associated symptoms. Adverse events were also collected.

Results: Nine patients with chronic migraine and two with new daily persistent headache received a first dose of 100 mg of eptinezumab. All of them had daily headache and nine had continuous headache at baseline. After the first infusion of 100 mg, two patients were no longer having daily headache, one patient stopped having continuous headache, and four patients noted headache intensity reduction. Additionally, one patient described a reduction in nausea and vomiting, and another patient noted improvement in function. Six patients received a second eptinezumab infusion of 100 mg, three had a third one, and one patient had four infusions of 100 mg. After the second infusion, one patient noted reduction in headache frequency, one experienced lower headache intensity, and two described pain "improving." With the third and fourth infusions, patients continued to report improvement in headache intensity. Subsequent infusions of 300 mg resulted in further reductions in headache frequency and intensity for some patients. Eptinezumab was overall well tolerated.

Conclusion: While this was a small sample, findings suggest that eptinezumab may be a safe and effective treatment for chronic, refractory headache in adolescents.