title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in primary headaches.
abstract: Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with pain modulation and central sensitization. Recently, a role of BDNF in migraine and cluster headache pathophysiology has been suspected due to its known interaction with calcitonin gene-related peptide. Bi-center prospective study was done enrolling four diagnostic groups: episodic migraine with and without aura, episodic cluster headache, frequent episodic tension-type headache, and healthy individuals. In migraineurs, venous blood samples were collected twice: outside and during migraine attacks prior to pain medication. In cluster headache patients serum samples were collected in and outside cluster bout. Analysis of BDNF was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Migraine patients revealed significantly higher BDNF serum levels during migraine attacks (n = 25) compared with headache-free intervals (n = 53, P < 0.01), patients with tension-type headache (n = 6, P < 0.05), and healthy controls (n = 22, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between patients with migraine with aura compared with those without aura, neither during migraine attacks nor during headache-free periods. Cluster headache patients showed significantly higher BDNF concentrations inside (n = 42) and outside cluster bouts (n = 24) compared with healthy controls (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). BDNF is increased during migraine attacks, and in cluster headache, further supporting the involvement of BDNF in the pathophysiology of these primary headaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Headache Outpatient Clinic, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. marlene.fischer@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wille
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klien
authors.forename: Hind
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shanib
authors.forename: Dagny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holle
authors.forename: Charly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaul
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Broessner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C019277:brain-derived growth factor