title: Effect of low-intensity acenocoumarol on frequency and severity of migraine attacks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of low-intensity acenocoumarol treatment (target INR 1.5 to 2.0) on the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The positive effect of anticoagulation on migraine has been described in case reports and observational studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, open, crossover study in migraine patients. After a run-in period of 8 weeks, all patients received acenocoumarol or propranolol during a period of 12 weeks and, after a washout period of 2 weeks, propranolol or acenocoumarol during a second period of 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen patients fulfilling the criteria were included. In 12 patients with complete data collection, only one good responder could be noted. In the other patients, treatment with low-intensity acenocoumarol did not show improvement of migraine symptoms compared with the run-in period. Treatment with propranolol showed a trend towards improvement compared with the run-in period. No serious adverse events were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, low-intensity acenocoumarol treatment has no prophylactic effect in migraine patients.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Wammes-van der Heijden
authors.forename: Martijn H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Smidt
authors.forename: Cees C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tijssen
authors.forename: Annelies R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: van't Hoff
authors.forename: Albert W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lenderink
authors.forename: Antoine C G
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Egberts
mesh_terms: D000074:Acenocoumarol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D011433:Propranolol; D000074:Acenocoumarol