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Published on: June 2, 2014
Decreased antioxidant status in migraine patients with brain white matter hyperintensities
Bilal Aytaç1, Özlem Coşkun, Bülent Alioğlu
1Department of Biochemistry, Ministry of Health, Medical School of Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, aytacbilal@hotmail.com.
Abstract:
Migraine patients have an increased risk to develop deep white matter hyperintensities (WMH) than the general population. Oxidative stress is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine. The present study was undertaken to assess oxidant/antioxidant balance of migraineurs with and without WMH. We hypothesized that increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant response may play a role in the pathophysiology of WMH in migraineurs. The study included 32 patients in the migraine group and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without headache in the control group. The migraine group comprised 18 with WMH and 14 without WMH. We evaluated oxidative status with malondialdehyde (MDA) and to determine the activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase (CAT) in serum of migraineurs and controls. Comparison of the patient and control groups for oxidative parameters revealed significantly lower level of CAT and higher level of MDA in the patient group. Two-way comparison for CAT and MDA of the migraine with and without WMH and the controls revealed that CAT serum level significantly decreased in migraine patients with WMH than migraine patients without WMH and controls. In this preliminary study, we demonstrated that the levels of CAT were decreased in migraine patients with WMH compared to patients without WMH and controls. These findings suggest that decreased antioxidant response may play a role in the pathophysiology of WMH in migraineurs. Besides, our results encourage the new treatment and follow-up options based on antioxidant systems.
Insights
Migraine patients with white matter hyperintensities (WMH) show lower levels of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT). This suggests reduced antioxidant capacity contributes to WMH development in migraineurs, potentially guiding new treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biochemistry
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Migraine is linked to a higher incidence of deep white matter hyperintensities (WMH).
- Oxidative stress is implicated in the underlying mechanisms of migraine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the oxidant/antioxidant balance in migraineurs.
- To determine if oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant response are associated with WMH in migraine patients.
Main Methods:
- Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase) were measured.
- Migraine patients (n=32) were categorized into those with (n=18) and without (n=14) WMH.
- A control group (n=17) of healthy subjects was included for comparison.
Main Results:
- Migraineurs exhibited lower catalase (CAT) activity and higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to controls.
- Migraine patients with WMH showed significantly lower serum CAT levels than those without WMH and controls.
- MDA levels were also elevated in the migraine group.
Conclusions:
- Decreased antioxidant response, specifically lower CAT levels, may contribute to the pathophysiology of WMH in migraine patients.
- These findings highlight the potential role of antioxidant systems in WMH development in migraine.
- The results suggest novel therapeutic and monitoring approaches targeting antioxidant pathways.
