NEUROPEPTIDE-Y IN JUVENILE MIGRAINE AND TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is widely distributed throughout sympathetic nerv e endings where it is co-stored and cosecreted with noradrenaline. It is considered a marker of noradrenergic function. To determine the rol e of NPY in the pathogenesis of juvenile headache. we determined its p lasma levels in two groups of young migraine patients (with and withou t aura), in a group of episodic tension-type headache patients and in a group of age and sex-matched healthy subjects. Significantly lower p lasma levels of NPY were evident in the migraine patients with aura (P <0.001) and, to a lesser extent, in the migraine patients without aura (P<0.02), both assessed in the interictal period, with respect to the control group. Plasma NPY levels tended to significantly increase dur ing attacks in migraine patients with aura(P<0.0009). A less evident, though significant increase was also present during attacks in migrain e patients without aura (P<0.02). No significant variations were obser ved between headache-free periods and attacks in tension-type headache patients. Reduced NPY levels in the interictal period can be consider ed further evidence of the derangement of the sympathetic function in the course of migraine, particularly that with aura. The increase in N PY levels during migraine attacks could be an expression of sympatheti c activation, even though the functional status of this system is less efficient.