Blood Pressure in Patients With Migraine Treated With Monoclonal Anti-CGRP (Receptor) Antibodies: A Prospective Follow-up Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anti–calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) (receptor) antibodies are approved as preventive treatment for migraine. Recent concerns have been raised after a retrospective analysis of postmarketing case reports of elevated blood pressure (BP) associated with erenumab. In this prospective follow-up study, we aimed to assess the safety regarding BP in a real-world setting. METHODS: All people with migraine who were treated with erenumab and fremanezumab at the Leiden Headache Center between January 2019 and January 2021 were included. BP measurements were collected from baseline (T0) until 12 months of follow-up, with a 3-month interval (T1–T4). Mixed linear models were fitted with time as a fixed effect and the patient as a random effect. RESULTS: Both systolic and diastolic BP were increased at all time points T1–T4 compared with T0 (p < 0.001). The maximum estimated increase in the mean systolic BP was 5.2 mm Hg (95% CI 3.1–7.5). The maximum estimated increase in the mean diastolic BP was 3.5 mm Hg (95% CI 2.0–4.9). In the erenumab group (n = 109), both systolic and diastolic BP were increased at all time points compared with T0 (all p < 0.001). For fremanezumab (n = 87), systolic but not diastolic BP was increased compared with T0 at T1 (p = 0.006) and T2 (p = 0.004). Four patients (3.7%) with normal BP at T0 required antihypertensive treatment after erenumab was started. DISCUSSION: The mean systolic and diastolic BP increased after anti-CGRP (receptor) antibodies were started. The majority of patients remained within the normal BP limits, but some patients required antihypertensive treatment. Physicians should be aware that people with migraine may be at risk of developing hypertension when treated with anti-CGRP (receptor) antibodies, and this should be added to (inter)national treatment guidelines. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that anti-CGRP (receptor) antibodies increase BP when used to treat patients with migraine.