[Effect of migraine medications on monocyte chemotaxis]

Monocytes play an important role in humoral as well as in cell-mediated immunity. In the present study, the influences of the anti-migraine preparations metoprolol, propranolol, metoclopramide, acetylsalicylic acid, dihydro-ergotamine and sumatriptan on monocyte chemotaxis were examined in vitro. First, mononuclear cells were isolated by centrifugation from venous blood samples obtained from 10 healthy male volunteers. Chemotaxis was determined using a microchemotaxis chamber. While metoprolol, metoclopramide, dihydroergotamine and sumatriptan did not influence monocyte chemotaxis, high doses of propranolol and acetylsalicylic acid caused a significant (p < or = 0.001) inhibition of this important cellular function. Therefore, it is quite possible that both drugs produce adverse immunological effects in vivo in cases of high dosage or obstruction of elimination.