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Whole blood and plasma histamine in common migraine
Abstract:
Whole blood and plasma histamine levels were measured in 27 non-medicated patients with common migraine. In nine cases blood was drawn 1-2 h after the onset of a migraine attack. The whole blood histamine levels of migraineurs and controls did not differ significantly. In contrast, histamine levels were significantly increased in plasma from patients both during and between migraine attacks, as compared with controls (p less than 0.001). Finally, plasma taken from migraine patients induced a significantly greater release of histamine from control whole blood than did plasma taken from control subjects (p less than 0.01).
Insights
Plasma histamine levels are elevated in migraine patients, even between attacks. Migraine plasma also triggers greater histamine release from normal blood, suggesting a role for plasma histamine in migraine pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Histamine is a key mediator in allergic reactions and inflammation.
- The role of histamine in migraine pathophysiology remains incompletely understood.
- Previous studies on histamine in migraine have yielded conflicting results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whole blood and plasma histamine levels in non-medicated migraine patients.
- To compare histamine levels during and between migraine attacks with healthy controls.
- To assess the effect of migraine patient plasma on histamine release from control blood.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of whole blood and plasma histamine levels in 27 migraine patients and controls.
- Blood samples collected during and between migraine attacks in a subset of patients.
- In vitro histamine release assay using patient plasma and control whole blood.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in whole blood histamine levels between migraineurs and controls.
- Significantly elevated plasma histamine levels in migraine patients compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- Plasma from migraine patients induced significantly greater histamine release from control whole blood (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Elevated plasma histamine, not whole blood histamine, is characteristic of migraine.
- Plasma histamine levels in migraineurs are increased both during and between attacks.
- Migraine plasma possesses properties that enhance histamine release, implicating plasma histamine in migraine.