title: Platelet levels of dopamine are increased in migraine and cluster headache.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure plasma and platelet levels of dopamine in patients with migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and cluster headache.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical, genetic, and pharmacological evidences suggest that an abnormality of dopaminergic system plays a role in migraine pathogenesis. Direct evidence of an abnormal metabolism of dopamine in migraine, however, is lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma and platelet levels of dopamine were measured in patients with migraine with aura or migraine without aura during headache-free periods and in patients with cluster headache during the remission and active periods, as compared with healthy control subjects, using a multichannel electrochemical high-performance liquid chromatography system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma levels of dopamine were not detectable with our methodology. Platelet levels of dopamine were higher in both types of migraine (migraine without aura = .20 +/- .17 ng/10(8) platelets; migraine with aura = .16 +/- .19 ng/10(8) platelets) than in control subjects (.10 +/- .11 ng/10(8) platelets), although in migraine with aura patients the difference was not significant. Patients with cluster headache showed the highest levels of platelet dopamine (.34 +/- .36 ng/10(8) platelets).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the hypothesis that the dopaminergic system is impaired in migraine and cluster headache and suggest that high platelet levels of dopamine may represent an abnormal biochemical phenotypic trait of these primary headaches.
authors.affiliation: Headache Centre, Villa Margherita Hospital, Arcugnano, VI, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Granella
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perini
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farruggio
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bussone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000097:blood*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine