title: Contingent negative variation and efficacy of beta-blocking agents in migraine.
abstract: Thirty-three patients with common migraine underwent contingent negative variation (CNV) recordings before receiving prophylactic beta-blocker treatment with either metoprolol (27 patients) or propranolol (6 patients) at mean daily dosages of 110 mg and 122 mg, respectively. After 3 months the therapeutic efficacy of the beta-blocker was assessed in each patient by means of a global severity score and compared with the initial CNV recordings. The mean clinical improvement was 62%. A significant positive correlation was found between CNV amplitude before prophylaxis and the clinical response to beta-blockers: patients with higher CNV tended to respond better to therapy. Eight of 10 patients with a CNV amplitude higher than -25 microV had a more than 50% reduction of the severity score--that is, a good or excellent response to the beta-blocking agent--whereas only 2 of 9 patients with an amplitude lower than -20 microV had a good response.
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol; D008790:Metoprolol