title: Frequency of migraine in patients with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an IgE mediated disease which is released by activation of mast cells and basophils, and often leads to sinus headache. Histamine which is the key mediator in the pathogenesis of AR, also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of migraine with nitric oxide (NO). Aim of our study was to investigate the frequency of migraine in patients with AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Headache assessment and neurological examination was performed on patients diagnosed as AR in the outpatient ear nose and throat clinic with age-matched controls. Participants with headache were classified according to the International Headache Society criteria, and migraine frequency was investigated in the patients with AR and control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Migraine headache was detected in 50% of the patients with AR. Among these, 95% were migraine without aura, and 5% were migraine with aura. Migraine frequency in the control group was 18.75% in the control group, and all was migraine without aura. Migraine frequency in the patients with AR was four times higher when compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While a histamine and IgE associated common mechanism is responsible in the pathogenesis of AR and migraine, not only sinus headache but also migraine headache should be kept in mind. Headache assessment of the patients with AR, and in case of headache existence, referral of these patients to neurology outpatient clinics for differential diagnosis and, to maintain appropriate therapy should not be forgotten.
authors.affiliation: Ayhan Ozturk, Associate Professor, Duzce University School of Medicine, Neurology Department, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Yildiz Degirmenci, Assistant Professor, Duzce University School of Medicine, Neurology Department, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Degirmenci
authors.affiliation: Burcu Tokmak, Specialist, Cerkezkoy Hospital, Ear Nose Throat Department, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burcu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tokmak
authors.affiliation: Abdurrahman Tokmak, Specialist, Cerkezkoy Hospital, Ear Nose Throat Department, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tokmak
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Histamine; Migraine; Nitric oxide