Migraine and peripheral inflammation

Abstract

Aim: Migraine is a common headache disorder that may be associated with inflammation and vascular diseases. We evaluated C-reactive protein and the number of immune cells in the peripheral blood of young adult patients with migraine.Patients and Methods: This case–control study included 520 subjects: 260 patients with migraine (without aura, 169 patients; with aura, 91 patients) and 260 healthy control subjects (age range, 18–50 years). Participants had no known anemia, vascular risk factors, or inflammatory diseases. We evaluated serum C-reactive protein and complete blood count parameters in patients with migraine and control subjects.Results: C-reactive protein level, leukocyte, neutrophillymphocyte, platelet counts and mean platelet volume significantly differed in patients with migraine compared to controls (P<0.001). However, with the exception of C-reactive protein, these parameters were similar in migraine with and without aura. Logistic regression analysis showed that migraine was significantly associated with C-reactive protein level (odds ratio [OR], 2.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.73–3.23; P<0.001), MPV (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.78–3.0; P<0.001), and leukocyte count (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.32–1.94;). Conclusion: Increased levels of peripheral inflammation may occur in patients with migraine and may be involved in the pathogenesis of migraine.

Keywords

• complete blood count
• c-reactive protein
• headache
• leukocyte
• lymphocyte
• platelet
• tam kan sayımı
• c-reaktif protein
• başağrısı
• lökosit
• lenfosit
• trombosit