Related Experiment Videos
Increased levels of plasma von Willebrand factor in migraine crisis
J M Cesar1, A García-Avello, A M Vecino
1Department of Haematology, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
Introduction:
To evaluate the participation of the vessel wall in the pathogenesis of migraine attack, we measured the plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), a protein secreted from the endothelial cells.
Material & Methods:
17 patients suffering from migraine without aura and 25 healthy volunteers were studied. von Willebrand factor and platelet aggregation tests were studied by conventional methods.
Results:
The levels of vWF:antigen increased from 72.4 +/- 29 U/dl in the intercrisis to 130.2 +/- 75 U/dl during the attack (p < 0.01). We did not detect difference in the platelet aggregability in both phases. Plasma vWF activity measured as ristocetin cofactor (vWF:RCo) was similar in intercrisis and crisis (100.6 +/- 31 U/dl vs 94.5 +/- 44 U/dl).
Conclusions:
There is a plasma release of vWF molecules during the migraine crisis. This feature is not platelet dependent and is probably a consequence of endothelial stress.