Methionine-enkephalin in migraine and tension headache. Differences between classic migraine, common migraine and tension headache, and changes during attacks.
We measured methionine-enkephalin (MET) in platelets and platelet-poor-plasma of drug-free patients with classic migraine, common migraine or tension headache (TH). Migraineurs were studied both between and during attacks. TH patients were characterized by low platelet-MET and high plasma-MET levels, whereas migraine patients showed high platelet-MET and reduced plasma-MET levels. During migraine attacks both platelet and plasma-MET concentrations increased considerably. We suggest that determination of MET levels in platelets and plasma may be a useful marker to discriminate between TH and common migraine. The rise in MET during attacks may be directed against the ictal increase of serotonin.
Ferrari
M D
MD
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Odink
J
J
Frölich
M
M
Portielje
J E
JE
Bruyn
G W
GW
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000097:blood*; D006261:Headache / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
D015415:Biomarkers; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine