Sweating function and retinal vasomotor reactivity in migraine

Sweating function and retinal arterial reactivity in patients with migraine were examined during headache-free intervals. The sweat glands were stimulated by intradermal injection of pilocarpine hydrochloride, and molds of sweat droplets were obtained using Silastic. The number of droplets in classic migraine was significantly lower than that in the controls. The retinal arterial response to changes in perfusion pressure was measured by means of a fundus camera. The retinal vasomotor index (-change in retinal arterial diameter (%)/change in effective MABP (mmHg)) was significantly lower in classic and in common migraine than in controls. The above results suggest that sweating function and retinal arterial reactivity are impaired in patients with migraine and that the impairment may play an important role in the pathophysiology of migraine attacks.