Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
18.4K
Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in pediatric migraine patients
İpek Polat1,2, Pakize Karaoğlu1, Ali Rıza Şişman3
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dokuz Eylül University, School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Summary
Pediatric migraine is linked to inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Elevated pentraxin-3, insulin, and insulin resistance were observed in children with migraine, suggesting these play a role in the condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Inflammation Research
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Migraine pathogenesis is suggested to involve inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.
- Biomarkers like C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio indicate inflammation.
- Insulin resistance and altered insulin levels may contribute to endothelial dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between pediatric migraine and serum biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.
- To evaluate specific inflammatory markers and indicators of endothelial dysfunction in children with migraine.
Main Methods:
- Recruited children with migraine and healthy controls.
- Collected serum samples during an attack-free period.
- Measured serum levels of complete blood count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, pentraxin-3, and biochemical markers including insulin.
- Compared biomarker levels with clinical data and Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire scores.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher pentraxin-3, insulin, and insulin resistance levels were found in children with migraine compared to controls.
- A positive correlation was observed between pentraxin-3 levels and Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire scores.
- Optimal cut-off values for pentraxin-3 in migraineurs were determined to be between 12.75 pg/mL and 15 pg/mL.
Conclusions:
- Increased pentraxin-3 levels support the role of inflammation in pediatric migraine.
- Elevated insulin and insulin resistance levels suggest vascular endothelial dysfunction in pediatric migraine.
- Ongoing inflammation and vascular endothelial dysfunction between attacks may contribute to migraine pathogenesis in children.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects
Acute inflammation produces a coordinated set of local and systemic changes that limit injury, eliminate pathogens, and initiate repair. These responses arise within minutes of infection, trauma, or chemical insult and are driven by vascular alterations and leukocyte-derived mediators. When the stimulus resolves, the reaction typically abates within days.Local EffectsAt the site of injury, arteriolar vasodilation increases blood flow, resulting in redness and warmth. Simultaneously, increased...
01:26Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology
Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
01:29Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins with...
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...