Effects of subcutaneous sumatriptan on plasma growth hormone concentrations in migraine patients.
The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity of 5-HT1D receptors in migraine using sumatriptan as a pharmacological probe. The drug stimulates the release of growth hormone (GH) and this effect may be used to explore the function of cerebral serotonergic systems in vivo. We administered sumatriptan and placebo to 15 migraineurs and to 10 controls. Blood samples were collected -15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 min after injection. Placebo had no effect on hormone concentrations. Sumatriptan induced a significant (P<0.01) increase in GH concentrations both in migraine patients and healthy controls. The GH increase was not significantly different in the two groups. Our results suggest that cerebral serotonergic functions mediated by 5-HT1D receptors are not altered in migraine. Sumatriptan overuse could lead to adverse effects mediated by its neuroendocrine activity.
Pinessi
L
L
Neurology III-Headache Centre, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Italy. Pinessi@galeno.medfarm.unito.it
Rainero
I
I
Savi
L
L
Valfrè
W
W
Limone
P
P
Calvelli
P
P
Del Rizzo
P
P
Gianotti
L
L
Taliano
M
M
Ghigo
E
E
Arvat
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D018170:Sumatriptan