PHOSPHORUS MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY IN CLUSTER HEADACHE

We performed in vivo MR spectroscopy phosphorus (P-31-MRS) on the brai n and skeletal muscles of 14 patients affected with cluster headache ( CH). We examined patients in interictal periods, and also examined nin e of them during the cluster period, although not during the attack. B rain P-31-MRS showed reduced phosphocreatine (PCr) levels, an increase d ADP concentration (calculated from the creatine kinase equilibrium), a reduced phosphorylation potential, and a high relative rate of ATP biosynthesis (V/V-max %). The inorganic phosphate (P-i) content was in creased during the cluster period. Ten of 13 patients also showed a sl ow rate of PCr recovery in muscle after the exercise. P-31-MRS in CH p atients showed abnormalities of brain and skeletal muscle energy metab olism comparable with those seen in various types of migraine, thus le ading us to suggest a similarity in biochemical pathogenic mechanisms between CH and migraine.