title: Release of PACAP-38 in episodic cluster headache patients - an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Activation of the trigeminal-autonomic reflex, involving the trigeminal ganglion, the superior salivatory nucleus and the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is crucial in the pathophysiology of cluster headache (CH). Since pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP-38) is present both in the SPG and the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and its role in migraine has been described, our aim was to determine the plasma PACAP-38 levels in different phases of episodic CH (ECH). Peripheral cubital fossa blood samples were taken during the ictal and inter-bout periods of male ECH patients and from age-matched healthy controls (n = 9). Plasma PACAP-38-like immunoreactivity (LI) was measured with specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly lower plasma PACAP-38-LI was detected in the inter-bout period of ECH patients than in healthy controls. However, PACAP-38 was significantly elevated in the plasma during CH attacks as compared to the inter-bout phase in the same subjects (n = 5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study suggests that PACAP-38 may be released during the attacks of ECH. Further patients and long-term follow-up are necessary to reveal its function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.|MTA-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: Bernadett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsigmond Tamás
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Kincses
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: Árpád
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Párdutz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: Délia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Szok
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Körtési
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Teréz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bagoly
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.|János Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.|MTA-PTE NAP B Pain Research Group, University of Pécs, Szigeti u. 12, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Helyes
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Experimental Vascular Research, Lund University, Sölvegatan 17, BMC A13, Lund, 22184, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edvinsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.|MTA-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vécsei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary. tajti.janos@med.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tajti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
keywords: Episodic cluster headache; Ictal phase; Inter-bout period; Plasma PACAP-38-LI