title: Evaluation of the changes in the nasal cavity during the migraine attack.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are some subjective symptoms involving the nasal cavity such as nasal congestion during a migraine attack. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the possible changes occurring in the nasal cavity during headache in patients with migraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with migraine were studied. The control group consisted of patients with tension-type headache. The severity of the headache and accompanying complaints were assessed using visual analog scale, and the nasal mucosa was assessed through anterior rhinoscopy and endoscopy. Resistance of the nasal cavity was evaluated through anterior rhinomanometry. Data obtained during the attack periods and attack-free periods were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients with migraine and 15 patients with tension-type headache were enrolled. It was found that 19 patients (76%) of the group with migraine and 5 patients of the group with tension-type headache were experiencing nasal congestion during the attack and that the differences between the groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The average of total nasal resistance in the patients with migraine was 0.57 ± 0.60 kPa/L/sn during migraine attacks and 0.28 ± 0.14 kPa/L/sn during attack-free periods. The average of total nasal resistance in the patients with tension-type headache was 0.32 ± 0.14 kPa/L/sn during attack periods and 0.31 ± 0.20 kPa/L/sn during attack-free periods. In the group with migraine, the change of nasal resistance between during the attack and attack-free periods was found statistically significant, whereas there was no statistically significant difference in the group with tension-type headache.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of this study, complaints regarding nasal obstruction and nasal airway resistance increase during migraine attacks. Cause-and-effect relationship between nasal obstruction and pain is not clear, and clinical trials are needed to determine the effect of nasal obstruction treatment (mucosal decongestion, etc) on the complaint of pain.
authors: From the *Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Etimesgut Military Hospital; †Departments of Neurology, and ‡Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Hasan Hüseyin
authors: HH
authors: Arslan
authors: Erkan
authors: E
authors: Tokgöz
authors: Üzeyir
authors: Ü
authors: Yildizoğlu
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: Durmaz
authors: Semai
authors: S
authors: Bek
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Gerek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult