Serum calcitonin gene-related peptide in patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms, including headache: a cohort study

This study investigates serum CGRP levels in patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS), including PTH.MethodsThis cohort study was based on serum samples from individuals aged 18 –30 years with PPCS who participated in a previously published randomized controlled trial of a non-pharmacological intervention. The primary outcome was serum CGRP concentrations, determined at baseline before randomization and at follow-up 7 months later, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent a ssay (ELISA). CGRP levels at baseline were compared with healthy anonymous blood donors in the same age group.ResultsBaseline serum samples were collected from 86 participants with PPCS. The participants were most often female (78%) and migraine-like headache was the most frequent headache phenotype (74%). Serum CGRP levels were higher in participants with PPCS than in 120 healthy individuals (median: 158.5  pg/mL vs. 76.3 pg/mL, p = 0.050). A stratified analysis revealed that females with PPCS had a fivefold higher median than healthy females (166.3 pg/mL vs. 32.1 pg/mL, p = 0.0006), while no differences were observed in males (p = 0.83). At follow-up, CGRP levels decreased with a medi an change of  – 1.3 pg/mL (95% confidence interval:  – 17.6–0, p = 0.024).DiscussionElevated serum levels of CGRP in patients with PPCS and a decrease over time suggest an involvement of CGRP in PTH/PPCS. If confirmed in other studies, it could pave the way for CGRP-targete...
Source: Journal of Neurology - Category: Neurology Source Type: research