Endothelial function in patients with migraine during the interictal period.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate endothelial function in migraineurs subjects during the asymptomatic period.


BACKGROUND
Migraine has been proposed as a risk factor for cerebrovascular events. The underlying mechanisms that relate these 2 pathologies are unknown. Nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed as the final causative molecule of migraine. Increased NO metabolites concentrations have been reported in migraineurs subjects during acute migraine attacks, but there is no evidence indicating alterations in endothelial NO release during the symptom free period in theses subjects.


METHODS
Fifty migraineurs subjects and 25 healthy subjects matched by gender and age were included. Every subject underwent a complete examination that included medical history, physical examination, resting electrocardiogram, forearm flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), blood determinations of fasting nitrates and nitrites (NO(2) (-)+ NO(3) (-)), glucose, lipid profile, creatinine, C-reactive protein, and blood cell count.


RESULTS
No differences in FMD or NO(2) (-)+ NO(3) (-) were detected among groups. The only difference between migraineurs and control subjects was a higher mean blood pressure 92.1 (8.8) mmHg versus 86.7 (8.2) mmHg P= .01.


CONCLUSIONS
The endothelial function is not altered during the interictal period in migraineurs subjects.
Silva
Federico A
FA
Instituto de Investigaciones, Grupo de Ciencias Neurovasculares, Grupo de Investigación en Sistema Nervioso Autónomo, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Floridablanca, Colombia.
Rueda-Clausen
Christian F
CF
Silva
Sandra Y
SY
Zarruk
Juan G
JG
Guzmán
Juan C
JC
Morillo
Carlos A
CA
Vesga
Boris
B
Pradilla
Gustavo
G
Flórez
Mildred
M
López-Jaramillo
Patricio
P
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites