Transcranial Doppler ultrasound in migraine and tension-type headache after apomorphine administration: double-blind crossover versus placebo study.
The effect of the dopaminergic agonist apomorphine on blood velocity in the middle cerebral artery has been studied in patients with migraine, tension-type headaches, and healthy subjects by means of transcranial Doppler monitoring. Following the administration of apomorphine, systolic velocity and mean velocity significantly increased and pulsatility index significantly decreased in migraineurs compared to placebo and to the other groups of subjects. These changes were dose-dependent and showed a time-curved compatible with the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. The different effect of apomorphine in migraineurs compared with controls and tension-type headache patients implies that migraineurs have increased sensitivity to dopaminergic stimuli and suggests that transcranial Doppler monitoring after apomorphine administration could be a useful tool in the evaluation of migraineurs.
Institute of Neurology, University of Pisa, Italy.
P
P
Piccini
N
N
Pavese
C
C
Palombo
G
G
Pittella
A
A
Distante
U
U
Bonuccelli
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010919:Placebos; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D010919:Placebos; D001058:Apomorphine