Plasma Monoamines in Tension‐Type Headache

Abstract

Clinical and pharmacological data suggest a derangement of central monoaminergic systems in tension-type headache. Biochemical evidence has been rarely recognized. These findings may relate with pathophysiological mechanisms of headache or with underlying depression. We measured platelet-rich plasma serotonin and plasma catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine) in 30 patients with tension-type headache and in 20 healthy controls, using High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography. We studied differences between groups and the relation between biochemical parameters and clinical indices evaluating duration and severity of headache and depression. Platelet serotonin levels in tension headache patients were higher than in controls (P < 0.001). Plasma catecholamine levels were lower in patients than in controls (P < 0.001 for epinephrine and dopamine, and P < 0.05 for norepinephrine). There was a positive correlation between dopamine levels and duration of history of headache (r = 0.55, P < 0.05). A negative correlation between epinephrine levels and severity of headache was observed (r = 51, P < 0.01). No correlations were found between monoamine levels and severity of depression. Our results add to the evidence of alterations of monoaminergic central systems in tension-type headache patients. These alterations seem to be independent from the underlying depression and related to the pathophysiologic mechanisms of headache.

Noradrenaline and cortisol changes in response to low-grade cognitive stress differ in migraine and tension-type headache

“…For patients with TTH, previous studies have demonstrated lower levels of catecholamines compared to controls [16,19,32]. Mean basal levels of catecholamines tended to be lower for both the migraineurs and TTH patients compared to healthy controls in our study, but the differences did not reach statistical significance.…”

“…Sympathetic activity has been measured by means of biochemical markers in both migraineurs [15][16][17][18] and TTH patients [16,19]. Some of these studies investigated biochemical effects of short-lasting stress from stressors such as cold pressor tests, tilt tests, mental arithmetic tests etc.…”

Serotonin Transporter Polymorphism and Harm Avoidance Personality in Chronic Tension‐Type Headache

“…The implication of serotonin's role in CTH has been supported by experimental research and biochemical studies. Biochemical studies performed on patients with CTH indicate that plasma serotonin levels tend to increase during the headache phase, and serotonin binding activity is increased 21–23 . Using radioactively labeled serotonin, platelet serotonin uptake has been reported to be increased 24 .…”

Aminergic Tone Correlates of Migraine and Tension‐type Headache: A Study Using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire

“…The role of 5‐HT in the pathogenesis of TTH has seldom been studied, and results conflict. The results of biochemical studies performed in patients with TTH tend to indicate that plasma 5‐HT levels are increased during the headache phase, as occurs in migraine 44‐46 . Although some authors have found lower platelet 5‐HT content in patients with TTH than in control nonheadache subjects, 47,48 in many biochemical studies the levels of 5‐HT in the platelets of patients with TTH have been higher than those in healthy individuals 49‐52 .…”