Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin for the prevention of chronic migraine. Background: According to the Global Burden of Disease study, migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, particularly among women. Chronic migraine is a common neurological disorder associated with substantial disability and is often undertreated. Although several preventive therapies have been evaluated, none has been specifically developed for the treatment of chronic migraine. Methods: We conducted a descriptive case series of patients with chronic migraine treated with botulinum toxin at Van Hanh Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, between April and July 2022. Patients who met the diagnostic criteria for chronic migraine and provided informed consent were treated with botulinum toxin. Clinical follow-up was performed at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 after treatment through either in-person visits or telephone consultations supplemented with photographic documentation. Outcome measures included the number of headache days, the number of migraine headache days, the frequency of analgesic use, and the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) score. Results: Six patients with chronic migraine were included in the study. Following treatment, the mean number of headache days decreased by 4.2 days, migraine headache days decreased by 6.2 days, analgesic use decreased by 8.1 occasions, and the MIDAS score decreased by 33 points. The most common adverse event was pain at the injection site. No patient discontinued treatment because of adverse events. Conclusions: This preliminary case series demonstrated promising efficacy of botulinum toxin for the prevention of chronic migraine. Botulinum toxin significantly reduced the number of headache days (26.25%), particularly migraine headache days (38.75%), and improved patients' quality of life.
