title: Increased spontaneous release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha/cachectin in headache patients. A possible correlation with plasma endotoxin and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
abstract: Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/cachectin (TNF-alpha/cachectin), Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), ACTH, beta-Endorphin (beta-EPH), and Cortisol (F) levels were determined in 33 Headache patients: 22 patients were affected with Migraine (M) and 11 patients with Chronic Type Tension Headache (CTTH). TNF-alpha/cachectin serum level was detected in 15 out of 22 migraneous patients and in no CTTH patients. Plasma LPS was observed in 11 out of 15 TNF-alpha/cachectin positive migraneous patients (73%) and in 3 out of 11 CTTH patients (27%). A negative correlation was observed between TNF-alpha/cachectin values and either ACTH or beta-EPH. In the group of migraneous patients the presence of serum TNF-alpha/cachectin showed a sensibility of .6 and a specificity of 1. The endocrine and immunological implications concerning these data are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Neurology, 2nd Medical School, University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Covelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fallacara
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Munno
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jirillo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savastano
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ghiggi
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Tommaselli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008033:Limulus Test; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000378:metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone