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Evidence for an altered dopamine‐hydroxylase activity in migraine and tension‐type headache
Author(s) -
Gallai V.,
Gaiti A.,
Sarchielli P.,
Coata G.,
Trequattrini A.,
Paciaroni M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1992.tb05108.x
Subject(s) - migraine , aura , dopamine , medicine , tension headache , endocrinology , pathogenesis , migraine with aura , migraine disorders , anesthesia
Sympathetic dysfunction is often present in migraine. It has been suggested that serum dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase (DβH) can be taken as an index of peripheral sympathetic activity. We studied the serum DβH activity in migraine with and without aura and in tension‐type headache patients compared with healthy control subjects. The serum DβH activity was significantly lower in migraine and tension‐type headache patients than in the control group. No significant difference was observed among the three groups of patients studied. These findings suggest that patients with migraine and tension‐type headache have a sympathetic hypofunction that may play an important role in the pathogenesis.