title: Plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in migraine during an attack-free period.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Saitama City Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiichiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan