Ireland

Millions of migraine sufferers could find relief from the condition thanks to an invention which delivers a magnetic pulse to the back of their head.

The findings have been hailed as a ‘major step forward’ in the treatment of
migraine.

Researchers found that people who suffered from migraine ‘with aura’, when
spots in front of the eyes or pins and needles precede the headache, can
benefit from the treatment.

Scientists are excited because the device offers an alternative to powerful
painkillers which do not work for some patients or cannot be tolerated.

A team from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, America, gave 200
migraine sufferers identical devices, made by Neuralieve in California, to
use when they felt a migraine coming on.

The study published in Lancet Neurology found in half of them the device
delivered a magnetic pulse and the others buzzed and vibrated in the same
way but did not produce a pulse.

After two hours 40pc of those with the real device said they did not have any
pain compared with 22pc of those with the sham device.

There were no side effects and the patients found the device easy to use. The
effect lasted for 48 hours.

It is now hoped the technique called single-pulse transcranial magnetic
stimulation can offer a real alternative to painkillers for migraine
sufferers with aura.

Around one in four of all migraine sufferers have aura.

Lead author Dr Richard Lipton, of the Departments of Neurology, Epidemiology,
and Population Health, said: “Although the exact mechanisms of migraine
remain under study, administration of sTMS in people with migraine with aura
decreases progression of the attack in some individuals…and could be a
promising acute treatment.

“Our findings are relevant in view of the disabling nature of migraine. For
patients who commonly have aura as a signal of an impending migraine,
treatment with sTMS may abort progression of the attack and abate disabling
pain and other symptoms.”

It is not known how the device affects migraine as the causes of the headaches
are still under investigation but it is thought to disrupt the electrical
signals in the brain.

In an accompanying Comment, Hans-Christoph Diener from University Hospital
Essen in Germany said: “The use of TMS could be a major step forward in the
treatment of migraine with aura, particularly in patients in whom presently
available drug treatment is ineffective, poorly tolerated, or
contraindicated.

“Despite positive results in the present trial many research questions remain
unanswered and more research is required.”

He said because the treatment could theoretically trigger seizures, patients
with epilepsy should not be treated until further research is done.

He added that even though the device is small and portable, slightly smaller
than a shoebox, so patients could use it at home it would not fit in a
handbag, for example.

The research was funded by Neuralieve.

- Rebecca Smith

© Telegraph.co.uk

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