A remarkable increase in total homocysteine concentrations in the CSF of migraine patients with aura.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether total and free homocysteine (HC) levels are increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with migraine headache compared with normal control populations.


METHODS
The concentrations of free and total HC in the CSF of migraine without aura (MOA) and migraine with aura (MWA) patients were determined.


RESULTS
The concentration of free HC did not differ significantly from normal controls, but the total HC concentration was significantly higher in MOA and MWA patients (41% increase in MOA, P < .001 and 376% increase in MWA, P < .0001) in the mean of the confidence interval of each groups compared with normal controls).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that an increase of total HC concentration in the brain is commonly seen in migraine patient and is particularly pronounced in MWA sufferers. We speculate that total HC not only contribute to the development of atherosclerotic conditions, including cardiocerebrovascular diseases, but also reflects an epiphenomenon.
Isobe
Chiaki
C
Department of Neurology, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
Terayama
Yasuo
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D020326:Migraine without Aura / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D055815:Young Adult
D006710:Homocysteine