MONOCYTE CHEMOTACTIC AND PHAGOCYTIC RESPONSES IN MIGRAINE AND TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE PATIENTS

Monocyte chemotactic and phagocytic responses were assessed in two gro ups of migraine patients (with and without aura) and in two groups of tension-type headache patients (episodic and chronic). The chemotactic but not the phagocytic response, assessed interictally, is significan tly lower in migraine patients (p<0.006) and in episodic tension-type headache patients, though not so significantly in the latter (p<0.05), than in the control individuals. The chemotactic response tends to in crease significantly during attack in migraine patients both with and without aura (p<0.008 and p<0.007 respectively). The same was evident for the phagocytic response in both migraine patient groups (p<0.007 a nd 0.0004). No modifications of monocyte functions were found during a ttacks neither in episodic nor chronic tension-type headache patients. These findings suggest that one or more mediators of neurogenic infla mmation having phagocytic and chemotactic enhancing properties (substa nce P, prostaglandin E and thromboxane A2 etc.) are implicated in the modification of monocyte function. The demonstration of a defect in mo nocyte function during the interictal period in migraine patients conf irms the results of recent research which evidenced reduced capacity o f monocyte to phagocyte and kill microorganisms in the course of migra ine.