title: Leukocyte subsets and cortisol serum levels in patients with migraine without aura and chronic tension-type headache.
abstract: Leukocyte subsets, serum cortisol and immunoglobulin production were investigated in a group of 12 migraine without aura patients, 12 chronic tension-type headache patients and compared with findings in 12 healthy controls. Chronic tension-type headache patients had statistically significant increased levels of B-lymphocytes (CD19+ cells) (p < 0.05), while migraine sufferers had a similarly significant decrease in CD8+ T-lymphocytes (p < 0.05). Migraine patients also had an increased percentage of B-lymphocytes although this failed to reach statistical significance. Immunoglobulin production and cortisol serum levels did not differ in the two headache groups. We conclude that the observed abnormalities in tension-type headache and migraine are unlikely to be a consequence of pain or of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Headache Center, C. Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bussone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D006854:Hydrocortisone