Premium
Calcineurin Inhibitor‐Induced Headache: Clinical Characteristics and Possible Mechanisms
Author(s) -
Ferrari Uta,
Empl Monika,
Kim Kwang Sik,
Sostak Petra,
Förderreuther Stefanie,
Straube Andreas
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05046.x
Subject(s) - calcineurin , headaches , tacrolimus , medicine , migraine , aura , nitric oxide , transplantation , pathophysiology , pharmacology , surgery
Objective.—To classify the headache syndromes under treatment with calcineurin inhibitors and to investigate whether the latter influence the nitric oxide production of human brain microvascular cells (HBMEC). Background.—Single cases of cyclosporine‐induced headaches have been reported. Since calcineurin inhibitors are known to influence the renal metabolism of NO, a key molecule in tension‐type headache and migraine, we were interested whether calcineurin inhibitors might change NO metabolism in HBMEC as well. Design and Methods.—Headache symptoms of 74 patients receiving cyclosporine and/or tacrolimus for organ transplantation were retrospectively assessed. Furthermore, the effect of cyclosporine and tacrolimus on nitric oxide production in human brain microvascular endothelial cells was investigated after incubation. Results.—Only 18 of the 74 patients reported no headache 1–36 months after liver, lung, or bone‐marrow transplantation, 28 reported a new headache, and 17 an increase in the frequency or intensity of a pre‐existing headache. The headache was generally classified as migraine without aura (IHS 1.1) or migraine‐like headache (IHS 1.6). Furthermore, we found significantly increased NO production after co‐incubation of calcineurin inhibitors with human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Conclusion.—The pathophysiological mechanism of these headaches may be connected with an endothelial dysfunction in terms of increased production of NO.