title: Migraine is a neuronal disease.
abstract: Migraine is a common, paroxysmal, highly disabling primary headache disorder with a genetic background. The primary cause and the origin of migraine attacks are enigmatic. Numerous clinical and experimental results suggest that activation of the trigeminal system (TS) is crucial in its pathogenesis, but the primary cause of this activation is not fully understood. Since activation of the peripheral and central arms of the TS might be related to cortical spreading depression and to the activity of distinct brainstem nuclei (e.g. the periaqueductal grey), we conclude that migraine can be explained as an altered function of the neuronal elements of the TS, the brainstem, and the cortex, the centre of this process comprising activation of the TS. In light of our findings and the literature data, therefore, we can assume that migraine is mainly a neuronal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Semmelweis U. 6, Szeged, 6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tajti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Párdutz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vámos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tuka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuris
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bohár
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fejes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toldi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vécsei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013181:Cortical Spreading Depression / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007736:Kynurenic Acid; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide