title: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and migraine.
abstract: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) is found in human trigeminocervical complex and can trigger migraine. PACAP levels were measured using a sensitive radioimmunoassay. Stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) in cat elevated PACAP levels in cranial blood. Patients with moderate or severe migraine headache had elevated PACAP in the external jugular vein during headache (n = 15), that was reduced 1 h after treatment with sumatriptan 6 mg (n = 11), and further reduced interictally (n = 9). The data suggest PACAP, or its receptors, are a promising target for migraine therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurological Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospitals and Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Alessandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Zagami
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edvinsson
authors.affiliation: Headache Group and NIHR-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, King's College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Goadsby