Episodic and chronic migraineurs are hypersensitive to thermal stimuli between migraine attacks.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if migraineurs have evidence of interictal cutaneous sensitisation.


METHODS
Thermal and mechanical pain thresholds in 20 episodic migraineurs, 20 chronic migraineurs, and 20 non-migraine control subjects were compared. Quantitative sensory testing was conducted when subjects had been migraine-free for at least 48 h. Heat, cold and mechanical pain thresholds, and heat and cold pain tolerance thresholds were measured.


RESULTS
Thermal pain thresholds and thermal pain tolerance thresholds differed significantly by headache group (P = 0.001). During the interictal period, episodic and chronic migraineurs were more sensitive to thermal stimulation than non-migraine controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Interictal sensitisation may predispose the migraineur to development of headaches, may be a marker of migraine activity, and a target for treatment.
Schwedt
Todd J
TJ
Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. schwedtt@neuro.wustl.edu
Krauss
Melissa J
MJ
Frey
Karen
K
Gereau
Robert W
RW
D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*