Plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in migraine during an attack-free period.
OBJECTIVE
We measured the plasma 5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), and tryptophan levels in controls, migraine patients with aura (MWA), and migraine patients without aura (MWoA) during an attack-free period.


BACKGROUND
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine. The precise relationship between 5-HT and migraine, however, remains unclear.


METHODS
Blood samples in controls, MWA, and MWoA patients during an attack-free period were collected from brachial arteries and analyzed using HPLC.


RESULTS
The plasma tryptophan and 5-HTP levels were not significantly different between the controls and migraine patients (either MWA or MWoA). However, the plasma 5-HT level in the MWA patients was significantly lower than that in the controls and MWoA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data suggest that reduced levels of 5-HT in MWA may result from either a dysfunction in the enzymes involved in serotonin biosynthesis or a dysfunction in 5-HT release or uptake from platelets and lymphocytes. These findings indicate the existence of a serotonin metabolism dysfunction in MWA patients that may differ from the state of serotonin metabolism in MWoA patients.
Nagata
Eiichiro
E
Department of Neurology, Saitama City Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
Shibata
Mamoru
M
Hamada
Junichi
J
Shimizu
Toshihiko
T
Katoh
Yuki
Y
Gotoh
Kyoko
K
Suzuki
Norihiro
N
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000097:blood; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood
D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan