ENDOTHELIN-1 IN MIGRAINE AND TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE

We determined the plasma levels of ET1, both interictally and ictally, in 50 migraine patients, 20 with aura (MPA) and 30 without aura (MPWA ), comparing them with the levels of 40 age-matched tension-type heada che patients (20 episodic and 20 chronic) (ETTHP and CTTHP) and the le vels of a group of 20 healthy control subjects (CS). No statistically significant difference was evident between the mean ET1 plasma levels of MPA and those of MPWA, assessed in headache-free periods. The mean ET1 plasma levels of MPA and MPWA, assessed interictally, were signifi cantly higher than those of CS. However, the values of plasma ET1 in E TTP and in CTTHP did not differ statistically from those of CS. MPA an d MPWA ET1 plasma levels increased significantly within 2 h from the o nset of attacks (p < 0.0001) and remained significantly higher between 4 and 6 h from the onset. The ET1 plasma levels of ETTHP and CTTHP as sessed during attacks did not differ statistically from those of the s ame patients assessed in the headache-free periods. The increase in ET 1 levels in MPA and MPWA patients when assessed ictally, suggests that this peptide is involved in the haemodynamic changes and vascular ton e modifications observed during migraine attacks, particularly in the first phase of the ictal period.