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Published on: June 2, 2014
Soluble CD40 ligand and prolactin levels in migraine patients during interictal period
Sibel Guldiken1, Baburhan Guldiken, Muzaffer Demir
1Department of Endocrinology, Trakya University Medical Faculty, Edirne, Turkey.
Insights
Migraine patients show higher soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels, indicating a risk for subclinical atherosclerosis. However, prolactin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels did not differ between patients and controls.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Migraine is increasingly recognized as a systemic vasculopathy, involving inflammation, thrombosis, and impaired vascular reactivity.
- Previous research suggests a link between migraine and cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the need to explore underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between prolactin levels and subclinical atherosclerosis risk factors, specifically soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), in female migraine patients during the interictal period.
- To assess whether prolactin levels correlate with sCD40L and hsCRP in migraine patients.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 50 female migraine patients (diagnosed via ICHD-II criteria) and 25 age-matched female controls.
- Serum levels of prolactin, sCD40L, and hsCRP were measured.
- A questionnaire was used to collect data on vascular risk factors.
Main Results:
- Migraine patients exhibited significantly higher sCD40L levels compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- No significant differences were observed in prolactin or hsCRP levels between migraine patients and controls.
- No correlation was found between prolactin, sCD40L, and hsCRP levels within the migraine patient group.
Conclusions:
- Migraine patients may be prone to subclinical atherosclerosis, as indicated by elevated sCD40L.
- This predisposition to subclinical atherosclerosis in migraine appears to be independent of prolactin levels.
Abstract:
The relationship of migraine with cardiovascular diseases has been clarified by many studies, and currently, migraine is suggested to be a systematic vasculopathy. Inflammation, thrombosis and impaired vascular reactivity are the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of the vasculopathy. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between prolactin levels and subclinical atherosclerosis risk factors such as soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) in migraine patients during interictal period. Fifty female migraine patients and age-matched 25 female control cases were enrolled in the study. Migraine diagnosis was settled according to the ICHD-II diagnostic criteria. A questionnaire was completed about the existence of vascular risk factors. Serum samples were used to measure sCD40L, hsCRP and prolactin levels. No difference was found between the prolactin levels of the migraine patients and the controls. The sCD40L levels were significantly higher in migraine patients (p < 0.001). High-sensitivity CRP levels showed no difference between the groups. There was no correlation between prolactin, sCD40L, and hs-CRP levels in migraine patients. We consider that the migraine patients are prone to subclinical atherosclerosis, but this tendency is independent of prolactin levels.
