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Altered hemostasis in migraineurs studied with a dynamic flow system
Gretchen E Tietjen1, Mohamed M Al-Qasmi, Kathleen Athanas
1Department of Neurology, Medical University of Ohio, Toledo, OH 43614, USA. gtietjen@meduohio.edu
Thrombosis Research
|March 1, 2006
Summary
Migraine patients, especially those with livedo reticularis (LR), show altered hemostasis and elevated von Willebrand factor (vWF). This suggests endothelial dysfunction may influence platelet response in migraine.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology
- Hemostasis and thrombosis
- Neurology
Background:
- Livedo reticularis (LR) is a skin condition linked to arteriopathy, often associated with migraine and stroke history.
- Migraineurs exhibit vascular perturbations, including elevated von Willebrand factor (vWF), indicating potential hemostatic system alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate global hemostasis in migraineurs, particularly those with LR.
- To measure von Willebrand factor (vWF) activity and antigen levels in migraine patients using a dynamic flow system.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled migraine patients and noted the presence or absence of LR.
- Recruited age-matched healthy controls without LR.
- Utilized the Clot Signature Analyzer (CSA) to assess platelet hemostasis time (PHT), collagen-induced thrombus formation (CITF), and clot time (CT).
- Measured vWF activity and vWF antigen levels.
Main Results:
- Migraineurs displayed higher vWF activity and antigen levels, and shorter hemostasis times compared to controls.
- The subset of migraineurs with LR showed the highest vWF levels and shortest PHT.
- A significant inverse correlation was found between vWF activity and PHT in the LR subset.
Conclusions:
- Hemostatic differences in migraineurs are most pronounced in the LR subset.
- The inverse correlation suggests endothelial perturbation may directly influence platelet response in migraineurs with LR.