Research

Headache Center Research and Publications


Articles


Practical Professional Ethics in Headache Medicine. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. 2020 to be published this fall

Author: Morris Levin, MD Director, UCSF Headache Center

Basic considerations for the use of monoclonal antibodies in migraine. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. 2018, 58(10):1689-96.

Authors: Morris Levin, MD, Director, UCSF Headache Center; and Silberstein SD, Gilbert R, Lucas S, Munsie L, Garrelts A, Kennedy K, Everman N, Pearlman E.

Development of new or worsening headache after cochlear implant activation: A hypothesis-generating pilot study of incidence, timing, and clinical factors. Cephalalgia Reports. August 2020

Authors: Nina Riggins, Ricky Chae, Morris Levin, Annika Ehrlich, Henna Sawhney, Colleen Polite, Peter Goadsby.

Retrospective Chart Review of Intravenous (IV) Valproate Sodium as a Preventive Treatment for Patients with Chronic Migraine. The Journal of Head and Facial Pain . March 2020

Authors: Nina Riggins, Annika Ehrlich, Henna Sawhney, Laura Dapkus, Morris Levin .


Abstract presentations at medical meetings


Efficacy of Inpatient Infusions for Patients with Chronic Migraine and History of Head Trauma

Presented at the American Headache Society Annual Meeting (virtual), June 2020

Authors: Nina Riggins, Annika Ehrlich, Henna Sawhney, Mira Parekh, Morris Levin

Pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of inpatient infusions of IV Dihydroergotamine, IV Chlorpromazine, or IV Valproate Sodium. Results showed that patients with chronic migraine and a history of head trauma had improvement in headache comparable to the general chronic migraine population with similar infusion admissions.

Effect of Dihydroergotamine (DHE) Infusion Rate on Inpatient Headache Treatment Outcomes


Presented at American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting (virtual), May 2020 and the Headache Cooperative of the Pacific, January 2020

Authors: Nina Riggins, Annika Ehrlich, Janet Corroo, Sarah Ahmad, Andrew Breithaupt, Morris Levin

Retrospective Chart review of chronic migraine patients admitted for IV DHE. Prolongation of DHE infusion in migraine patients that had a cramping side effect due to treatment had improvement in both cramping and headache, concluding that prolongation did not alter efficacy of treatment

IV Valproate Sodium as a Preventive Treatment for Chronic Migraine

Presented at International Headache Congress, September 2019

Authors: Nina Riggins, Annika Ehrlich, Laura Dapkus, Morris Levin

Pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of IV valproate sodium therapy protocol for migraine in a population of chronic migraine patients refractor to multiple preventative medications. Results show that repetitive dosing of valproate sodium is a safe and well-tolerated intervention of chronic migraine resistant to oral medications.

Does the presence of Cranial Autonomic Symptoms (CAS) in Chronic Migraine Patients Predict Efficacy of Botox Injections?


Presented at American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, May 2019

Authors: Nina Riggins, Annika Ehrlich, Laura Dapkus, Peter Goadsby

Prospective cohort study to determine if the presence of CAS predicts headache benefit from Botox treatment in patients with chronic migraine. Results showed that patients without CAS more likely to improve from Botox treatment for chronic migraine compared to those with mild to moderate CAS symptoms.

The preventive effects of sphenopalatine- ganglion (SPG) blocks in chronic migraine patients increases with the number of repeated blocks

Presented at American Headache Society Annual Meeting, June 2018

Authors: Nina Riggins, Annika Ehrlich, Laura Dapkus, Morris Levin

Study assesses the use of SPG blocks as an effective treatment for chronic migraine prevention. SPG blocks are safe and effective as a preventative treatment for chronic migraine and repetitive doses show improvement in both frequency and severity of migraine.

Development of New or worsening Headache After Turning on of Cochlear Implants


Presented at American Headache Society Annual Meeting, June 2018

Authors: Nina Riggins, Annika Ehrlich, Laura Dapkus, Colleen Polite, Peter Goadsby

Cohort study to examine and identify the correlation of headache and cochlear implant including factors that predispose patients for developing headache. Results determined a correlation between activation of cochlear implants and headache.

IV Thorazine (chlorpromazine) as a Preventive Treatment for Headache

Presented at American Headache Society Annual Meeting, June 2016

Authors: Nina Riggins, Annika Ehrlich, Laura Dapkus, Morris Levin

Pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of chlorpromazine as a preventative headache medication. Results indicate that IV chlorpromazine is safe and well-tolerated medication for the treatment of chronic migraine resistant to oral medications.