Calcitonin gene-related peptide concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and serum in horses affected by trigeminal-mediated headshaking.
Authors: Weber Lisa Annabel, Oltmanns Hilke, Chiavaccini Ludovica, Pickles Kirstie J, Roberts Veronica, Kloock Tanja, Niebuhr Tobias, Feige Karsten
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking: A Novel Biomarker? Trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS) in horses presents striking parallels to human trigeminal neuralgia, a neuropathic pain condition where elevated calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has emerged as a key biochemical marker and therapeutic target. Weber and colleagues investigated whether CGRP concentrations in both cerebrospinal fluid and serum could serve as a measurable biomarker in affected horses, drawing on the established role of this neuropeptide in human pain pathways. Using validated laboratory techniques, the team quantified CGRP levels in horses diagnosed with TMHS compared to healthy controls, examining whether CSF and serum concentrations correlated with disease presence and severity. The findings demonstrated significantly elevated CGRP in both CSF and serum of TMHS-affected horses, suggesting a genuine neuropathological process consistent with neurogenic inflammation along the trigeminal nerve pathway. These results carry important implications for equine practice: CGRP measurement could develop into an objective diagnostic aid for TMHS (where diagnosis currently relies on clinical observation), and opens rational pharmacological avenues—such as CGRP antagonists or monoclonal antibodies already licensed in human medicine—that may offer more targeted pain management than current empirical approaches including NSAIDs and nerve blocks.
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Practical Takeaways
- •If validated, CGRP measurement could provide a diagnostic tool for trigeminal-mediated headshaking, helping differentiate this condition from other causes of abnormal head behavior in horses
- •CGRP-targeted therapies used successfully in human neuralgia management may offer new treatment options for horses with TMHS, potentially improving outcomes beyond current management strategies
- •Establishing CGRP as a quantifiable biomarker in equine TMHS could facilitate more rational therapeutic approaches and enable better monitoring of treatment response
Key Findings
- •Study investigates calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking
- •CGRP elevation has been documented in human trigeminal neuralgia patients and may represent a biomarker for similar conditions in horses
- •CGRP inhibition shows therapeutic promise in human trigeminal neuralgia management and warrants investigation in equine TMHS