Inflammatory and infectious parameters in tension-type headache

Abstract

Although tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common primary headache in the world, much fewer studies on its pathophysiology have been carried out in comparison to other primary headaches. Inflammatory processes are important in the pathophysiology of both peripheral and central pain. Studies on the role of inflammatory markers in TTH patients are limited. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to examine the role of inflammatory parameters in TTH. 199 TTH patients and 154 control participants were involved in this study. C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte (PLR), monocyte/lymphocyte (MLR), HDL/monocyte and Immature/Total granulocyte ratios in all patients reviewed retrospectively. CRP value and immature/total granulocyte ratio were found to be significantly higher in the patient group when compared to the control group. No difference was found between NLR, PLR, MLR, and HDL/Monocyte ratios. There was no difference in NLR, MLR, immature/mature granulocyte ratios, and CRP values between the genders in the patient group. Median values of PLR, HDL, and HDL / monocyte were found to be higher in males. The fact that there is no difference in most of the inflammatory parameters in TTH and there is a significant difference in the immature/total granulocyte ratio is a new finding on this subject. There is no other study in the literature examining the immature/total granulocyte ratio in headaches.