title: Beta-endorphin levels are reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cluster headache patients.
abstract: Opioid system hypofunction has been postulated in cluster headache (CH) on the basis of reduced opioid levels found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In this study beta-endorphin levels were monitored in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 65 episodic CH patients (32 in remission and 33 in cluster period) and 50 healthy controls. Beta-endorphin levels were significantly lower than controls in CH patients experiencing both phases of the illness (ANOVA, p < 0.0001). The persistence of this abnormality during pain-free remission suggests a primary alteration in the regulation of beta-endorphin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We speculate that these findings reflect reduced CNS levels of beta-endorphin in CH.
authors.affiliation: Headache Centre, C. Besta Neurological Institute, 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; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin