Sensitivity to aversive stimulation, posttraumatic symptoms and migraines: what do they have in common?

Studies have suggested that the high comorbidity observed between chronic migraine and anxiety disorders can be mediated through a third factor namely increased sensitivity to aversive stimulation. This trait may predispose for both chronic migraines, through medication overuse as an avoidance response, and anxiety disorders. Additional studies have shown that hyper sensitivity to aversive stimulation, migraine chronification and anxiety disorders share other characteristics such as serotonergic mediation and personality traits. Preliminary analysis of empirical data comparing the frequency the impact of traumatic events over chronic [CM] and episodic migraine [EM] patients gives further support to this hypothesis. In spite of CM and EM did not differ in terms of the occurrence of traumatic events, CM patients that had experienced at least one traumatic event during their lives had higher scores in re-experiencing and avoidance (but not in hyperarousal) symptoms than CM patients. These observations suggest that traumatic events have greater impact over CM than over EM patients.

Trigger factors in migraine patients.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a chronic neurological disease with several trigger factors, including dietary, hormonal and environmental factors. PURPOSE: To analyse precipitating factors in a sample of migraine patients. METHOD: Two hundred consecutive migraine patients were interviewed about possible trigger factors for migraine attacks. RESULTS: Most patients showed at least one dietary trigger, fasting was the most frequent one, followed by alcohol and chocolate. Hormonal factors appeared in 53%, being the pre-menstrual period the most frequent trigger. Physical activities caused migraine in 13%, sexual activities in 2.5% and 64% reported emotional stress a trigger factor. 81% related some sleep problem as a trigger factor. Regarding environmental factors, smells were reported by 36.5%. CONCLUSION: Trigger factors are frequent in migraine patients, its avoidance may decrease headache frequency and also improve patients' quality of life.

Trigger factors in migraine patients / Fatores desencadeantes de enxaqueca

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a chronic neurological disease with several trigger factors, including dietary, hormonal and environmental factors. PURPOSE: To analyse precipitating factors in a sample of migraine patients. METHOD: Two hundred consecutive migraine patients were interviewed about possible trigger factors for migraine attacks. RESULTS: Most patients showed at least one dietary trigger, fasting was the most frequent one, followed by alcohol and chocolate. Hormonal factors appeared in 53 percent , being the pre-menstrual period the most frequent trigger. Physical activities caused migraine in 13 percent, sexual activities in 2.5 percent and 64 percent reported emotional stress a trigger factor. 81 percent related some sleep problem as a trigger factor. Regarding environmental factors, smells were reported by 36.5 percent. CONCLUSION: Trigger factors are frequent in migraine patients, its avoidance may decrease headache frequency and also improve patients' quality of life.

INTRODUÇÃO: A enxaqueca é uma doença neurológica crônica que apresenta diversos desencadeantes como fatores alimentares, hormonais e ambientais. OBJETIVO: Analisar os fatores desencadeantes em uma amostra de pacientes com enxaqueca. MÉTODO: Duzentos pacientes com diagnóstico de enxaqueca foram questionados sobre fatores que pudessem desencadear suas crises. RESULTADOS: 83,5 por cento apresentaram algum fator alimentar, jejum foi o fator mais freqüente, seguido de álcool e chocolate. Dos fatores hormonais, o período pré-menstrual foi o mais freqüente. Atividade física causou enxaquecas em 13 por cento, atividade sexual em 2,5 por cento, estresse em 64 por cento e 81 por cento relataram o sono como fator desencadeante. Em relação aos fatores ambientais, odores foram desencadeantes em 36,5 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: Os fatores desencadeantes são freqüentes em enxaqueca e a sua detecção deve ser pormenorizada para que se reduza a freqüência de crises e melhore a qualidade de vida do paciente.

Low urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin concentrations in acute migraine.

Substantial evidence points to melatonin as playing a role in the regulation of circadian rhythms, sleep, and headache disorders. The objective of the study was to assess 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) levels in a large consecutive series of patients with migraine, comparing with controls. A total of 220 subjects were evaluated-146 had migraine and 74 were control subjects. Urinary samples were collected into the same plastic container since 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. of the next day (12-h period) and aMT6s was measured with quantitative ELISA technique. Among patients with migraine, 53% presented pain on the day of the urine samples collection. Their urinary aMT6s concentration was significantly lower than in the urine of patients without pain [14.0 +/- 7.3 vs. 49.4 +/- 19.0; t(143) = -15.1; 95% CI = -40.0 to -30.8; P < 0.001]. There was no significant difference in the aMT6s concentration of patients with migraine without pain on the day of their urine samples collection and controls [49.4 +/- 19.0 vs. 42.5 +/- 27.9; t(140) = 1.7; 95% CI = -1.2 to 14.8; P = 0.094]. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate reduction in melatonin levels during attacks in episodic and chronic migraine.

Glutamate levels in cerebrospinal fluid and triptans overuse in chronic migraine.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic migraine (CM) is a common disorder, affecting 2% to 3% of the general population. Glutamate is implicated in cortical spreading depression, trigeminovascular activation, central sensitization, and may be linked to migraine chronification. Triptans brought a novel option for the acute migraine treatment. As the development of central sensitization impacts upon the effectiveness of triptan therapy, we hypothesized that glutamate might be related to triptan response mechanisms. METHODS: We studied 19 patients diagnosed with CM according to the International Headache Society (2004) criteria. Patients were divided in those overusing analgesics (NSAIDs); those without overuse, and those overusing triptans. RESULTS: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glutamate levels were similar in patients overusing acute medications (0.335 +/- 0.225 micromol) compared to those without overuse (0.354 +/- 0.141 micromol), P= NS). In contrast, patients overusing triptans had CSF glutamate levels significantly lower than that observed in nonoverusers (0.175 +/- 0.057 vs 0.354 +/- 0.141 micromol, P= 0.015), and significantly higher than controls (0.175 +/- 0.057 vs 0.109 +/- 0.066 micromol, P= 0.039). In triptan overusers, CSF glutamate levels, although lower, were not significantly different from patients overusing other types of analgesics. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed lower glutamate levels in CSF of CM patients overusing triptans. Glutamate may be implicated in triptan response mechanisms, triptans may work in part by reducing extracellular glutamate levels in the brain.

Patients' preference for migraine preventive therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Preventive treatment is an important part of migraine therapy. When prescribing medication, physicians should understand patients' treatment preferences and select drugs that most closely meet their patients' needs. Understanding the factors that influence patients' preference increases physicians' ability to select appropriate migraine therapy. However, unlike acute migraine treatment, patients' preferences for migraine preventive treatment have never been studied. METHODS: We enrolled 250 patients who attended the Jefferson Headache Center and Sao Paulo Headache Center and had a primary headache diagnosis. Patients' age, gender, body mass index (BMI), headache diagnosis, headache frequency, duration, and intensity, headache disability (by MIDAS), and current preventive treatments were ascertained. Patients were asked to rate 7 aspects of headache prevention (efficacy, speed of onset, out-of-pocket expenses, adverse events, formulation of therapy, type of treatment, and frequency of dosing) in order of importance (1-7). Each patient also evaluated 12 different clinical scenarios, each one containing a simulation of 2 hypothetical headache preventive treatments, wherein patients could choose Product A, Product B, or neither. Patients were informed of each product's efficacy data (50%, 75%, or 100% headache elimination), adverse event profile (weight gain, concentration difficulty, and/or fatigue), and dosing frequency (once every 3 months, once per day, or twice per day). RESULTS: Most patients were Caucasian. Mean BMI was 26.55 +/- 5.34, range (17-45). Mean history of headache was 20.93 years. Fifty patients (40%) had 45 or more headache days in the past 3 months. Mean headache intensity score (0-10 scale) was 5.7 +/- 1.8. Patients were on various preventive treatments, including beta-blockers (48 [41%]), calcium-channel blockers (19 [16%]), antidepressants (52 [44%]), antiepileptics (46 [39%]), neurotoxins (16 [14%]), vitamins/herbal therapies (28 [24%]), and nonmedicinal therapy (38 [32%]). Of the 7 aspects of migraine prevention that patients were asked to rate, 72% rated effectiveness the most important aspect. Twelve percent rated speed of onset most important, 6% rated absence of adverse events most important, 3% rated formulation of therapy most important, 3% rated out-of-pocket expenses most important, and 2% rated type of treatment (prescription/vitamin) most important. None rated frequency of dosing as the most important factor. In the area of preventive treatment scenarios, patients were more likely to choose treatments with higher efficacy rates, fewer adverse events and less frequent dosing schedule. Patients indicated that they preferred the treatment options with higher efficacy rates even if side effects were present and a more frequent dosing schedule was necessary. CONCLUSION: Patients' preference regarding migraine prevention is very important in headache management. Patients rated efficacy the most important aspect in preventive therapy and preferred treatment options with higher efficacy rates. Future studies are needed for a better understanding of patients' preference for migraine prevention.