Changes in liquid emptying in migraine patients: diagnosed with liquid phase gastric emptying scintigraphy

Abstract

Gastric stasis is suspected mostly to be encountered during acute migraine attack. The aim of this study is to evaluate the liquid phase gastric emptying and motility in migraine patients in ictal and interictal periods in comparison to normal subjects with gastric emptying scintigraphy. Seven women with migraine and age, sex matched controls who applied to the Neurology Department from May 2009 to May 2010 were compared. Gastric emptying study with a standard liquid was performed one time in the non‐migraineur group and two times in the migraineur group. Non‐migraineur controls and migraineurs were compared. The mean T1/2 was longer in ictal period in migraineurs. The T1/2 of migraineurs interictally and the control groups were similar. The T1/2 of migraineurs ictally and migraineurs interictally were also compared. We also considered the percentage of the radioactive material remaining in the stomach. There were no significant differences between non‐migraineurs and migraineurs interictally. However, increased amount of radioactive material remaining in the stomach was observed in migraineurs ictally. We concluded that the liquid emptying was delayed in spontaneous migraine attacks in migraine without aura, however in the interictal period the emptying of liquids did not differ between migraineurs and non‐migraineurs.

Gastric Emptying in Migraine: A Comparison With Functional Dyspepsia

“…In addition, migraine patients during the interictal period, had delayed gastric stasis compared with during the ictal period 21. However, previous studies had the limitation of not evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms during the interictal period and thus showed controversial results 20-22. Therefore, in our study we enrolled subjects with migraine without gastrointestinal symptoms during the interictal period in order to eliminate the group that overlaps with FD.…”

What the Gut Can Teach Us About Migraine

“…Compared to migraineurs, subject with FD had more delayed gastric emptying [56]. However, a study evaluating liquid-phase gastric emptying observed delayed ictal but not interictal gastric emptying in migraineurs compared to controls [57].…”

No Gastrointestinal Dysmotility in Transgenic Mouse Models of Migraine

“…Patients with migraine retain orally administered medication in their stomach, limiting passage into the small intestine, and its subsequent detection in serum, consistent with IG. [21][22][23] The etiology of gastroparesis in patients with migraine is unclear. 15,16 However, similar findings have been reported with the administration of paracetamol and tolfenamic acid.…”