Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1993 Oct;56(10):1119–1121. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.56.10.1119

Catecholamine levels in plasma and CSF in migraine.

F Martínez 1, J Castillo 1, J Pardo 1, M Lema 1, M Noya 1
PMCID: PMC1015243  PMID: 8410012

Abstract

There is clinical and pharmacological evidence of the existence of sympathetic dysfunction in migraine. Adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations were determined in plasma and CSF of patients during attacks of common or classic migraine, comparing them with controls suffering from stress. Plasma noradrenaline levels were significantly lower in the patients with common migraine than in controls (p < 0.05). Other catecholamine levels in plasma and CSF in both migraine groups were only slightly lower than in controls. Our results suggest that central sympathetic dysfunction exists in patients with migraine.

Full text

PDF
1119

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Anthony M. Biochemical indices of sympathetic activity in migraine. Cephalalgia. 1981 Jun;1(2):83–89. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.1981.tb00014.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Besson J. M. Anatomical and biochemical strategy of pain suppressing systems. Cephalalgia. 1987;7 (Suppl 6):19–22. doi: 10.1177/03331024870070S606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Davis B. A. Biogenic amines and their metabolites in body fluids of normal, psychiatric and neurological subjects. J Chromatogr. 1989 Apr 19;466:89–218. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9673(01)84617-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Diamond S., Medina J. L. Double blind study of propranolol for migraine prophylaxis. Headache. 1976 Mar;16(1):24–27. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1976.hed1601024.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Goldstein D. S., McCarty R., Polinsky R. J., Kopin I. J. Relationship between plasma norepinephrine and sympathetic neural activity. Hypertension. 1983 Jul-Aug;5(4):552–559. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.5.4.552. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Havanka-Kannianinen H., Juujärvi K., Tolonen U., Myllylä V. V. Cardiovascular reflexes and plasma noradrenaline levels in migraine patients before and during nimodipine medication. Headache. 1987 Jan;27(1):39–44. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1987.hed2701039.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Munari L., Milanesi I., Silvani A., Bussone G., Boiardi A. Pharmacologic evaluation of cardiovascular reflex responses in migraine patients: lack of central sympathetic modulation? Funct Neurol. 1989 Oct-Dec;4(4):375–378. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Nappi G., Martignoni E., Micieli G., Costa A., Sances G., Melzi d'Eril G. V., Facchinetti F., Genazzani A. R. Sympathergic/neuroendocrine reactivity as a marker of adaptive processes underlying migraine susceptibility. Cephalalgia. 1987;7 (Suppl 6):533–535. doi: 10.1177/03331024870070S6235. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. O'Cuinn G., O'Connor B., Elmore M. Degradation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone and luteinising hormone-releasing hormone by enzymes of brain tissue. J Neurochem. 1990 Jan;54(1):1–13. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1990.tb13276.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Scheinin M. Monoamine metabolites in human cerebrospinal fluid: indicators of neuronal activity? Med Biol. 1985;63(1):1–17. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Takeshima T., Takao Y., Urakami K., Nishikawa S., Takahashi K. Muscle contraction headache and migraine. Platelet activation and plasma norepinephrine during the cold pressor test. Cephalalgia. 1989 Mar;9(1):7–13. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.1989.0901007.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Welch K. M. Migraine. A biobehavioral disorder. Arch Neurol. 1987 Mar;44(3):323–327. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1987.00520150063024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES