title: Nitroglycerin induces migraine headache and central sensitization phenomena in patients with migraine without aura: a study of laser evoked potentials.
abstract: In migraineurs nitroglycerin (NTG) induces severe delayed headache, resembling spontaneous migraine attacks. The aim of the present study was to evaluate NTG laser evoked potentials (LEP) features amplitude and pain sensation to laser stimuli during NTG-induced headache. Nine patients were selected. Headache was induced by oral administration of 0.6 mg of NTG; signals were recorded through disk electrodes placed at the vertex and referred to linked earlobes. CO(2)-LEPs delivered by stimulation of the dorsum of both hands and the right and left supraorbital zones were evaluated after the onset of moderate or severe headache resembling spontaneous migraine and at least 72 h after the end of the headache phase. Patients exhibited a significant heat pain threshold reduction and an LEPs amplitude increment during headache when both the supraorbital zones were stimulated. NTG appeared to support a reliable experimental model of migraine, based on the neuronal effects on the integrative-nociceptive structures. The LEPs facilitation during NTG-induced headache may be subtended by a hyperactivity of nociceptive cortex as well as by a failure of pain-inhibitory control.
authors.affiliation: Neurologic and Psychiatric Sciences Department, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. m.detommaso@neurol.uniba.it
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Tommaso
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Libro
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: Olimpia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Difruscolo
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Losito
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sardaro
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerbo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation; D006261:Headache / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011840:Radiation, Nonionizing; D011930:Reaction Time
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005996:Nitroglycerin