INCREASED LEVELS OF PLASMA VON-WILLEBRAND-FACTOR IN MIGRAINE CRISIS

Introduction - To evaluate the participation of the vessel wall in the pathogenesis of migraine attack, we measured the plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), a protein secreted from the endothelial cell s. Material and methods - 17 patients suffering from migraine without aura and 25 healthy volunteers were studied. von Willebrand factor and platelet aggregation tests were studied by conventional methods. Resu lts - The levels of vWF:antigen increased from 72.4 +/- 29 U/dl in the intercrisis to 130.2 +/- 75 U/dl during the attack (p<0.01). We did n ot detect difference in the platelet aggregability in both phases. Pla sma vWF activity measured as ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo) was similar in intercrisis and crisis (100.6 +/- 31 U/dl vs 94.5 +/- 44 U/dl). Co nclusions - There is a plasma release of VWF molecules during the migr aine crisis. This feature is not platelet dependent and is probably a consequence of endothelial stress.