ERYTHROCYTE AND PLASMA-LEVELS OF GLUTAMATE AND ASPARTATE IN CHILDREN AFFECTED BY MIGRAINE

In this study we determined plasma and erythrocyte amino acids in chil dren affected by migraine, in order to evaluate glutamate and aspartat e metabolism in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Fifteen children wi th migraine with aura (mean age+/-SD=10.3+/-1.56), 19 children with mi graine without aura (mean age+/-SD=10.4+/-1.48) and 16 healthy normal controls (mean age+/-SD 10.6+/-1.53) were investigated. In both migrai ne groups there were significantly lower plasma glutamate and aspartat e levels and significantly higher erythrocyte/plasma concentration (E/ P) ratios of these amino acids with respect to the controls. Erythrocy te aspartate concentrations were significantly elevated in migraine ch ildren compared to the controls, while erythrocyte glutamate concentra tions showed no significant differences between groups. Similar result s were observed in both migraine groups. These results seem to suggest the presence of a higher activity of the erythrocytes' glutamate/aspa rtate transport system that could reflect a similar alteration at the neuronal/glial cell level in the CNS. Our study suggests an imbalance of the excitatory amino acid turnover in the pathogenesis of migraine in children.