Attenuated lactate response to ischemic exercise in migraine.
BACKGROUND
Although the pathogenesis of migraine still remains unclear, certain metabolic studies done on patients with migraine indicate possible deficits in mitochondrial activity. Previously, the forearm ischemic exercise test (FIT) has been used as a screening tool to evaluate mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolic myopathies.


METHODS
We studied the response of migraine patients to exercise using the modified FIT and compared this to the responses in a healthy group. After baseline venous blood samples were drawn, a sphygmomanometer cuff placed around the upper arm was inflated to 30 mmHg above systolic blood pressure and the subject performed a maximal isometric contraction of the forearm flexors using a hand-grip dynamometer with a 9-contraction: 1-relaxation duty cycle for a total time of 60 seconds.


RESULTS
In migraine patients, attenuated lactate response after the FIT in the 1st, 3rd and 5th minutes were significantly different when compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that there may be defects in the anaerobic or proximal glycolytic pathways in migraine patients, evident in stressful situations. We also conclude that the FIT may be useful for research on migraine pathophysiology.
Sahin
Sevki
S
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey. drsahin@gmail.com
Cinar
Nilgun
N
Benli Aksungar
Fehime
F
Ayalp
Sunay
S
Karsidag
Sibel
S
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D010100:Oxygen