title: Endothelin in migraine patients.
abstract: Endothelins (ETs) are the most potent vasoconstrictors known, and may be the mediators of the vasoconstrictive phase in migraine attacks. We studied 31 previously selected migraine patients with (9) and without (22) aura ictally and interictally to determine their plasma ET-1 values. The mean interictal and ictal values were 5.3 pg/ml (SD 1.8) and 6.4 pg/ml (SD 3.9), respectively. The ictal values were markedly elevated at the beginning of the migraine attack (<2 h) and declined to interictal or even lower level later (4 to 6 h) in the course of an attack. The local vasoconstriction at the beginning of a migraine attack might be ET-mediated secondarily to serotonin activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallela
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Färkkilä
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Saijonmaa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fyhrquist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D018170:Sumatriptan