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Published on: June 16, 2023
Procalcitonin levels in migraine patients
Hale Turan1, Bahriye Horasanli, Murat Ugur
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Selçuklu, Konya, Turkey.
Objectives:
Migraine is a risk factor for ischemic stroke. Sterile vascular inflammation may develop during migraine attacks. This study aims to investigate procalcitonin (PCT) levels amongst migraine patients as they are important markers for infection and sepsis, but can also be found at elevated levels in various cases of inflammation.
Methods:
Eighty adult migraine patients participated in our study. Patients were initially separated into two main groups; Group-1 consisted of 34 patients who had migraines during the attack period. Group-2 consisted of 46 patients during the period in-between attacks. Afterwards, patients were further divided into four subgroups based on their aura status; Group-1a Migraine without aura, 27 patients during attack period, Group-1b Migraine with aura, 7 patients during attack period, Group-2a Migraine without aura, 40 patients during the period in-between attacks, Group-2b Migraine with aura, 6 patients during the period in-between attacks.
Results:
Average PCT levels in patients during attack periods were found to be higher than the average PCT levels of patients during the period in-between attacks. These elevated levels were determined to be statistically significant(p<0.01). Serum PCT levels of the patients with migraine without aura during the attack period were significantly higher than those of patients during the period in-between attacks(p<0.01).
Conclusions:
Based on significantly high levels of PCT, our results support the idea that sterile inflammation plays a role in migraine pathogenesis. Further studies are necessary to understand whether PCT is a marker for ischemic stroke risk in patients who go through frequent migraine attacks.
Insights
Elevated procalcitonin (PCT) levels during migraine attacks suggest sterile inflammation plays a role in migraine pathogenesis. This finding may have implications for understanding migraine-related ischemic stroke risk.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Inflammation Research
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Migraine is a recognized risk factor for ischemic stroke.
- Sterile vascular inflammation is hypothesized to occur during migraine attacks.
- Procalcitonin (PCT) is a marker for infection and sepsis, but also elevated in inflammatory conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate procalcitonin (PCT) levels in migraine patients.
- To determine if PCT levels differ between migraine attack periods and inter-attack periods.
- To explore the potential role of sterile inflammation in migraine pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Eighty adult migraine patients were recruited.
- Patients were grouped based on migraine attack status (during vs. inter-attack).
- Further subgrouping was done based on aura status (with vs. without aura).
Main Results:
- Average PCT levels were significantly higher in patients during migraine attacks compared to inter-attack periods (p<0.01).
- Serum PCT levels were significantly elevated in patients with migraine without aura during attacks versus inter-attack periods (p<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Significantly elevated PCT levels support the role of sterile inflammation in migraine pathogenesis.
- Further research is needed to ascertain if PCT can serve as a marker for ischemic stroke risk in frequent migraine sufferers.
