Low-dose aspirin for migraine prophylaxis.
The Physicians' Health Study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that studied low-dose aspirin (325 mg every other day) therapy among 22,071 US male physicians aged 40 to 84 years. Annual follow-up questionnaires requested information on the occurrence of numerous medical conditions including migraine. At the end of 60 months, morbidity follow-up was 99.7% complete, and the reported consumption of aspirin or other platelet-active drugs was 86% in the aspirin group and 14% in the placebo group. Of those randomized to aspirin, 661 (6.0%) reported migraine at some time after randomization, as compared with 818 (7.4%) of those allocated to the placebo group, representing a statistically significant 20% reduction in recurrence rate. The rate of self-report of ordinary headache was similar in the two groups. These data indicate that migraine is mediated, at least in part, by the effects of platelets and suggest that low-dose aspirin should be considered for prophylaxis among those with a history of established migraine.
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
J E
JE
Buring
R
R
Peto
C H
CH
Hennekens
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009017:Morbidity; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence
D001241:Aspirin