BIBN4096BS antagonizes human alpha-calcitonin gene related peptide-induced headache and extracerebral artery dilatation

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide).

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays a pivotal role in migraine pathogenesis.

The researchers investigated the ability of BIBN4096BS to inhibit human alphaCGRP (h-alphaCGRP)-induced headache and cerebral hemodynamic changes in healthy volunteers.

Who Took Part

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

As a double-blind CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) group a baseline to be compared against.

In the crossover set-up each of the participants took both CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) and the comparison in turn, acting as their own control.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA); regional and global cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by xenon 133 inhalation single-photon emission computed tomography.

The temporal and radial artery diameter was measured by high-frequency ultrasound.

Systemic hemodynamics, end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO(2)), and headache were monitored.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptor Antagonists, Cerebral Arteries, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Headache, Heart Rate and Piperazines.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide).

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 4 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2005 (Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics), a journal based in United States.

More context: the CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide) compound page, all human trials.