title: Association of Helicobacter pylori antibodies and severity of migraine attack.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have shown a positive correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and migraine headache. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of H. pylori infection in migraine headache with (MA) and without aura (MO).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a case-control study containing information on 84 patients (including MA, MO) and 49 healthy individuals. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was used to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG,) immunoglobulin M (IgM) titer in two groups. Headache severity was evaluated according to Headache Impact Test (HIT6) questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD of IgM antibody in Migrainous patients 26.3 (23.1) showed significantly difference with control group 17.5 (11.2) (P = 0.004). In addition, the mean ± SD HIT6 in Migrainous patients differed significantly between MA and MO groups 65.5 (4.7), 54.9 (5.3) respectively, P < 0.001). The only significant correlation was found for IgG antibody and HIT6 in MA patients (r = 0.407, P = 0.011) and MO group (r = 0.499, P = 0.002). The risk of migraine occurrence in patients did not significantly associate with the level of IgG and IgM antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results give a hope that definite treatment and eradication of this bacterium could be a cure or to reduce the severity and course of migraine headaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Keivan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basiri
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Al-zahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences AND Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Rokhsareh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meamar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chitsaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nematollahi
keywords: Head Pain; Helicobacter Pylori; Migraine