title: Beta-endorphin concentrations in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of migraine and tension-type headache patients.
abstract: Levels of beta-endorphin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells have been studied as a new approach to investigating opioid tone in migraine and tension-type headache. Sixty-one patients with migraine without aura, 39 with migraine with aura and 23 with episodic tension-type headache were compared with 37 healthy controls. Peripheral blood samples were taken from patients not enduring headache attacks and not undergoing prophylactic treatment. A significant reduction in peripheral blood mononuclear cell beta-endorphin concentrations was observed in migraine patients with and without aura, but not in tension-type headache patients. Altered transmitter modulation to peripheral blood mononuclear cells may be the cause of this alteration, which could be part of a more diffuse opioid system derangement in migraine subjects.
authors.affiliation: Headache Center, Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sacerdote
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Panerai
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bussone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin