title: Laser-evoked potential habituation and central sensitization symptoms in childhood migraine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have addressed central sensitization symptoms and pain processing in childhood migraine. Our aims were to examine pain sensitivity and responses, including habituation, evoked by CO2 laser stimuli (laser-evoked potentials (LEPs)) in a cohort of children with migraine compared to non-migraine controls and to determine the correlation between LEP features and signs of central sensitization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients 8-15 years of age with migraines without aura were evaluated during the inter-critical phase and were compared to 17 controls. LEPs were analyzed, and their main features were correlated with clinical symptoms including allodynia and pericranial tenderness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The laser-evoked pain threshold was lower and the N2P2 vertex complex amplitude was higher in children with migraines. Furthermore, habituation of vertex waves of LEPs clearly showed a tendency toward progressive amplitude enhancement in the migraine group. Acute allodynia and inter-critical pericranial tenderness correlated with trigeminal LEP features, particularly with the abnormal habituation pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormalities of pain processing and symptoms of central sensitization appear to be characteristics of children with migraine. Reduced habituation and progressive amplification of cortical responses to laser stimuli indicate an overactive nociceptive system at the onset of migraine, and this hyperactivity may subtend allodynia and pericranial tenderness. Future prospective trials may aid in the early identification of clinical phenotypes that display a tendency to develop into the chronic form of migraine, warranting a timely therapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical, Neuroscience and Sensory System Department, Bari Aldo Moro University, Italy marina.detommaso@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Tommaso
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Division, Bari Policlinico General Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sciruicchio
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical, Neuroscience and Sensory System Department, Bari Aldo Moro University, Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical, Neuroscience and Sensory System Department, Bari Aldo Moro University, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montemurno
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Division, Bari Policlinico General Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical, Neuroscience and Sensory System Department, Bari Aldo Moro University, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vecchio
authors.affiliation: Psychological Pediatric Service, Bari Policlinico General Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia Foschino
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Division, Bari Policlinico General Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Division, Bari Policlinico General Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Marvita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goffredo
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical, Neuroscience and Sensory System Department, Bari Aldo Moro University, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Livrea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D059333:Central Nervous System Sensitization / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066331:Laser-Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Migraine; central sensitization; childhood; laser-evoked potentials