PLATELET SULFOTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY, PLASMA SULFATE LEVELS AND SULFATION CAPACITY IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE AND TENSION HEADACHE

Activity of both the M-and P-forms of sulphotransferase (ST) was measu red in platelets from patients with migraine, tension headache and con trols. Mean PST values were 0.065+/-0.023 and 0.057+/-0.052 nmol/mg pr otein/min for migraine patients with and without aura. The correspondi ng values for tension headache and controls were 0.122+/-0.059 and 0.1 27+/-0.093 nmol/mg protein/min respectively (p<0.05). Mean MST values were not different for any of the groups, and MST and PST activities m easured in two patients during a migraine attack were not significantl y altered from baseline levels. Mean plasma inorganic sulphate concent rations and paracetamol metabolites were not significantly different i n any of the groups studied. The results suggest that PST activity may be a factor in the aetiology of migraine.