title: Abnormal brain processing of cutaneous pain in migraine patients during the attack.
abstract: We examined cutaneous pain thresholds using CO(2) laser stimuli during migraine attacks, and defined the evoked cortical potential characteristics. Ten patients without aura were studied during attacks and for at least 72 h subsequently. Pain stimuli were generated on the dorsum of both hands and the right and left supraorbital zones, using pulses from a CO(2) laser. Absolute latencies of scalp potentials were measured at the highest peak of each response component, and the peak-to-peak amplitudes of N2a-P2 components were recorded. Cutaneous pain thresholds were significantly reduced on both the symptomatic and non-symptomatic sides during the attack, in comparison with the headache-free phase. The N2a-P2 complexes also increased in amplitude during attacks in comparison with the pain-free side. Thus, cutaneous hyperalgesia occurs during migraine attack, and is subtended by central sensitization phenomena, probably involving the cortex.
authors.affiliation: First Neurologic Clinic, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza G Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. m.detommaso@neurol.uniba.it
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Tommaso
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Libro
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Losito
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sciruicchio
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monetti
authors.forename: Francomichele
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin