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.
Interuniversity Center for the Study of Headache and Neurotransmitter Disorders, Perugia, Italy.
V
V
Gallai
P
P
Sarchielli
A
A
Floridi
M
M
Franceschini
M
M
Codini
G
G
Glioti
A
A
Trequattrini
R
R
Palumbo
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