Increased dopamine is associated with the cGMP and homocysteine pathway in female migraineurs.
BACKGROUND
The group of catecholamines, which include dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline, are neurotransmitters which have been considered to play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine. However, the impact of catecholamines, especially dopamine on migraine as well as the exact mechanisms is not clear to date as previous studies have yielded in part conflicting results.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to produce a comprehensive examination of dopamine in migraineurs.


METHODS
Catecholamines and various parameters of the homocysteine, folate, and iron metabolism as well as cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and inflammatory markers were determined in 135 subjects.


RESULTS
We found increased dopamine levels in the headache free period in female migraineurs but not in male patients. Increased dopamine is associated with a 3.30-fold higher risk for migraine in women. We found no significant effects of aura symptoms or menstrual cycle phases on dopamine levels. Dopamine is strongly correlated with cGMP and the homocysteine-folate pathway.


CONCLUSIONS
We show here that female migraineurs exhibit increased dopamine levels in the headache free period which are associated with a higher risk for migraine.
Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Gruber
Claudia
C
Bernecker
Sabine
S
Pailer
Anita
A
Lechner
Renate
R
Horejsi
Reinhard
R
Möller
Franz
F
Fazekas
Martie
M
Truschnig-Wilders
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007378:Interleukins; D006710:Homocysteine; D007501:Iron; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D004298:Dopamine