Newswise — NEW YORK (April 24, 2014) – Researchers from the Montefiore Headache Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University will present nine abstracts related to migraine and other types of head pain at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) being held April 26 – May 3 in Philadelphia. Migraine is the most common neurologic disorder, impacting nearly 1 in 4 U.S. households.

“Our abstracts emphasize chronic migraine, which afflicts 2% of the United States population,” said Richard B. Lipton, M.D., director, Montefiore Headache Center and professor and vice chair of neurology and the Edwin S. Lowe Chair in Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “We will also discuss the diagnosis and treatment of headaches in pregnancy, an important problem as migraines most commonly impact women during childbearing years. These studies represent our commitment to improving clinical assessments and personalized treatment plans for those affected by head and facial pain.”

This year’s meeting will feature lectures, oral abstracts and poster presentations made by nationally and internationally renowned neurological experts. Findings from the Montefiore Headache Center investigators will cover topics ranging from approaches to improving headache diagnosis and treatment protocols to socioeconomic differences amongst migraine-affected populations to neurologic conditions during pregnancy. Dr. Lipton will also direct a half day course on Chronic Migraine at the AAN meeting.

Chronic migraine presentations:

1. Sociodemographic Disability and Employment Differences Between Persons with Chronic and Episodic Migraine: Results of the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology & Outcomes (CaMEO) Study – The initial presentation from a new national, longitudinal survey of 16,789 persons: 1,476 with chronic migraine and 15,313 with episodic migraine, the CaMEO study. The study compared financial and occupational burdens faced by those with chronic versus episodic migraine, including the degree of differences in unemployment and household income. Presented by Dr. Richard Lipton and Dawn C. Buse, Ph.D., director, Behavioral Medicine, Montefiore Headache Center, associate professor, Clinical Neurology, Einstein. Poster #S41.00, Headache Clinical. Wednesday, April 30 at 4:00 PM. 2. Barriers to Chronic Migraine Care: Results of the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology & Outcomes (CaMEO) Study – The CAMEO study, referenced in presentation one, prompted examination of diagnosis and treatment patterns for those with chronic migraine. Results revealed the number of accurate medical diagnoses for chronic migraine sufferers amongst study respondents, as well as minimally appropriate treatments reported. Presented by Dr. Dawn Buse and Dr. Richard Lipton. Poster #P6.205, Headache Imaging and Epidemiology. Thursday, May 1, 3:30PM.

3. Developing and Validating the ID-Chronic Migraine (ID-CM) Screening Tool – Results from a preliminary screening tool developed to facilitate diagnosis of chronic migraines. The approach was developed by an international expert panel using psychometric and epidemiologic methods. Presented by Dr. Richard Lipton and Dr. Dawn Buse. Poster #P5.202; Headache Epidemiology. Wednesday, April 30 at 5:00 PM.

Headache in pregnancy presentations:

4. Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Pregnant Patients with Headache – Treating migraine in pregnancy can be difficult due to the impact drugs may have on the fetus. This study demonstrated that injections given to selected regions of the head with local anesthetic, a technique known as Peripheral Nerve Blocks, a safe, but rarely studied approach for headaches in pregnancy, may present relief. Presented by Matthew S. Robbins, M.D., FAHS, director, Inpatient Services, Montefiore Headache Center, chief of Neurology, Einstein Division, Montefiore and assistant professor of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Poster #P7.202, Headache Therapeutics. Thursday, May 1, 3:00 PM.

5. Peripartum Pneumocephalus Associated With Epidural Anesthesia For Labor – Headache during and after childbirth may have serious or benign causes. This study showed that the presence of gas within the skull (pneumocephalus) can arise as a complication of spinal anesthesia during labor. Pneumocephalus is an under-recognized, but important cause of headache during and following childbirth. Presented by Dr. Robbins. Poster #P5.207, Headache Clinical Presentation/Diagnosis. Wednesday, April 30 at 3:00 PM.

Investigators for each of these studies are available to speak with media. About Montefiore Medical Center As the University Hospital and academic medical center for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore is renowned for its clinical excellence, scientific discovery and commitment to its community. Recognized among the top hospitals nationally and regionally by U.S. News & World Report, Montefiore provides compassionate, patient- and family-centered care and educates the healthcare professionals of tomorrow. The Children's Hospital at Montefiore is consistently named in U.S. News' "America's Best Children's Hospitals." With four hospitals, 1,512 beds and more than 84,000 annual admissions, Montefiore is an integrated health system seamlessly linked by advanced technology. State-of-the-art primary and specialty care is provided through a network of more than 150 locations across the region, including the largest school health program in the nation and a home health program. Montefiore's partnership with Einstein advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. The medical center derives its inspiration for excellence from its patients and community, and continues to be on the frontlines of developing innovative approaches to care. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org and www.cham.org. Follow us on Twitter; like us on Facebook; view us on YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva UniversityAlbert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is one of the nation’s premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2013-2014 academic year, Einstein is home to 734 M.D. students, 236 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 353 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 2,000 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2013, Einstein received more than $155 million in awards from the NIH. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in diabetes, cancer, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Through its extensive affiliation network involving Montefiore, Jacobi Medical Center –Einstein’s founding hospital, and five other hospital systems in the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Brooklyn, Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube.###