QST, Blink Reflex and Nociceptive Flexion Reflex in Headache

Quantitative Sensory Testing, Blink Reflex and Nociceptive Flexion Reflex in the Pathophysiology of Headache

The aim of this study is to compare central and peripheric sensitization in headache patients at Baseline (T0) and 1 month after (T1) a treatment with an anti-CGRP (Fremanezumab-Ajovy).

20 patients and 20 healthy subjects will be enrolled. The headache patients will be recruited just before starting their treatment and 1 month after (corresponding to the efficacy peak). Hot and cold stimulations will be delivered with the ATS probe from the Medoc Pathway on the forehead and on the hand (palmar face) to determine painful threshold to warm/cold stimuli. A blink reflex will be generated with a concentric electrode placed over the eyebrow and with active/earth electrodes linked to the EMG machine for the recording. For the nociceptive flexion reflex, a cutaneous stimulation will be applied on the arm and the response recorded on the corresponding muscles.

Inclusion Criteria: patients with headache which are about to receive a treatment with fremanezumab

Exclusion Criteria:

• medication changes 1 month prior to the test
• neuropathy
• acute or chronic pain
• medications having effects on the central nervous system
• other disease