Plasma Tryptophan in Migraine

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Free and total plasma tryptophan (TRY) was evaluated in migraine and daily headache sufferers. In migraineurs, free plasma TRY was significantly higher on the day of the attack, the day preceding and subsequent to the attack in comparison with controls. The possibility that in migraineurs a lowering of brain 5‐HT may displace TRY from its binding to plasma albumin through an unknown feedback mechanism is suggested. In daily headache sufferers total plasma TRY levels were statistically significantly lower compared with controls. This may reflect a deficiency of 5‐HT in the brain.

Endogenous Opioids in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood in Idiopathic Headache Sufferers

“…28 In previous studies on idiopathic headache sufferers we have detected, and here confirmed, a significant increase of free plasma tryptophan during the period of attack. 8 CSF of depressive patients exhibits a very low tryptophan level 15 in contrast to the high level detected in migraineous patients in our present study: this result emphasizes a biochemical difference between migraine attack and masked or evident endogenous depression.…”

“…5,6 Pharmacological studies have demonstrated an implication of serotonergic descending fibres in pain control; 7 an increase of free plasma tryptophan (the fraction available for cerebral 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis) has been previously detected in migraine attack. 8 Since investigations in headache sufferers on both serotonergic and endorphinergic joint systems have not been reported (except a preliminary note), 9 enkephalins and tryptophan in CSF, free and total plasma tryptophan and serum beta-endorphin-like-immunoreactivity in idiopathic headache sufferers (migraine and cluster headache) have been here evaluated.…”

Association of plasma tryptophan concentration with periaqueductal gray matter functional connectivity in migraine patients

“…Accumulating data suggest that the migraine attack itself can contribute to the elevated plasma tryptophan concentration in several ways 48 , 49 . The stress effect of the approaching or repeated attacks can increase cortisol secretion which will in turn increase proteolysis and plasma tryptophan concentration 35 , 49 .…”

Dietary control of chronic maxillofacial pain

“…Using tryptophan, favorable clinical results have been obtained in a number of prior studies. These included: the treatment of sensory deficits and recurrent pain in patients after rhizotomy and cordotomy (29); and fairly successful treatment of migraine patients (31,32). Other investigators, using 5-HTP, have also obtained excellent results in both the treatment of migraine (43) and several central pain states (34).…”

“…In humans, tryptophan-enriched diets have been foutid to reduce pain sensitivity in healthy men (26), potentiate electrieally induced endorphin analgesia (27), reduce depression and increase pain tolerance in chronic pain patients (28), and improve sensory deficits and relieve recurrent pain in patients following rhizotomy and cordotomy (29). Treatment of migraine patients with L-tryptophan has been reported to be moderately successful by several investigators, (30,31,32,33), apparendy as a result of elevation of plasma-free and total tryptophan levels. Deafferentation pain and central pain have been significantly relieved by 5 hydroxytryptophan.…”