title: Raised plasma endothelin during acute migraine attack.
abstract: Endothelins are the most potent vasoconstrictor peptides known. Plasma endothelin (ET-1) concentrations were measured in eight migraine patients (mean age 44.5 years), two during an acute migraine attack with aura and six during an attack without aura. The mean ET-1 values were elevated in all migraine patients above the range of normal subjects, and were 10.6 (range 6.0-16.0) pg/ml in migraine patients and 3.8 (range 0.7-5.8) pg/ml in controls. We hypothesize that ET-1 may constrict cerebral vessels during the initial stage of the migraine attack.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Färkkilä
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Saijonmaa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fyhrquist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins