Vasoactive peptide levels in the plasma of young migraine patients with and without aura assessed both interictally and ictally.
We measured, by RIA methods, ictal and interictal levels of substance P (SP), calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) and neurokinin A (NKA) in the plasma of 30 young migraine patients with aura (MPA) and 45 migraine patients without aura (MWA), and compared the results with those of 30 age-matched controls. There were no significant differences between the levels of these vasoactive peptides in the control group and the levels in both migraine groups studied in headache-free periods. An elevation of CGRP levels in plasma was found during attacks in MPA and, to a lesser extent, in MWA (p < 0.03 and p < 0.05, respectively). A significant increase in NKA levels was also demonstrated in the MPA and MWA groups (p < 0.02 and p < 0.04, respectively). These data suggest, although indirectly, that CGRP and NKA could be involved in the pathogenesis of migraine attacks in juvenile migraine patients.
Gallai
V
V
Interuniversity Center for the Study of Headache and Neurotransmitter Disorders, Perugia, Italy.
Sarchielli
P
P
Floridi
A
A
Franceschini
M
M
Codini
M
M
Glioti
G
G
Trequattrini
A
A
Palumbo
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000097:blood; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood*; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood
D009479:Neuropeptides; D013373:Substance P; D015288:Neurokinin A; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide