CATECHOLAMINE LEVELS IN PLASMA AND CSF IN MIGRAINE

There is clinical and pharmacological evidence of the existence of sym pathetic dysfunction in migraine. Adrenaline and noradrenaline concent rations were determined in plasma and CSF of patients during attacks o f common or classic migraine, comparing them with controls suffering f rom stress. Plasma noradrenaline levels were significantly lower in th e patients with common migraine than in controls (p < 0.05). Other cat echolamine levels in plasma and CSF in both migraine groups were only slightly lower than in controls. Our results suggest that central symp athetic dysfunction exists in patients with migraine.