JAMA Neurol

Study probes link between triptans and CV risk

February 9, 2024

Triptans are used to treat acute migraines and currently carry a contraindication for individuals with a history of CV disease. In this case-crossover study, researchers found that triptan initiation was associated with higher risk of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. However, for individual patients with low background cardiovascular risk, the risk of an ischemic event after triptan initiation was very low.

• Individuals who were initiating triptans, along with the ischemic events they experienced were identified from a nationwide Danish registry. In total, 429,612 individuals (median age, 38 years; 75.8% female) who redeemed a first prescription for a triptan in the study period were included.
• A case-crossover design was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for associations between first-ever triptan use and ischemic outcomes, comparing triptan exposure in the 2-week period up to the event with four 2-week reference periods. Data were obtained for the period January 1995 to August 2022.
• Of these individuals, the following outcomes were observed: 11 (0.003%) had an MI with the first triptan prescription in either a focal or referent window; 18 (0.004%) had ischemic stroke; and 35 (0.008%) had ischemic or non-specified stroke.
• Case patients had a median age of approximately 60 years and had a high-risk cardiovascular profile.

Source:

Petersen CL, et al. (2024, February 5). JAMA Neurol. Risk of Stroke and Myocardial Infarction Among Initiators of Triptans. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38315477/