title: CGRP in human models of primary headaches.
abstract: Objective To review the role of CGRP in human models of primary headaches and to discuss methodological aspects and future directions. Discussion Provocation experiments demonstrated a heterogeneous CGRP migraine response in migraine patients. Conflicting CGRP plasma results in the provocation experiments are likely due to assay variation; therefore, proper validation and standardization of an assay is needed. To what extent CGRP is involved in tension-type headache and cluster headache is unknown. Conclusion Human models of primary headaches have elucidated the role of CGRP in headache pathophysiology and sparked great interest in developing new treatment strategies using CGRP antagonists and antibodies. Future studies applying more refined human experimental models should identify biomarkers of CGRP-induced primary headache and reveal whether CGRP provocation experiments could be used to predict efficacy of CGRP antagonists in migraine patients.
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashina
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik Winther
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Schytz
authors.affiliation: Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Messoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashina
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D015415:Biomarkers; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
keywords: CGRP; human provocation models; migraine; primary headaches