PATTERNS OF PLATELET-AGGREGATION IN MENSTRUAL MIGRAINE

We investigated the threshold of the platelet release reaction during the luteal phase of the cycle in 46 patients suffering from menstrual migraine (MM) and 27 healthy normal women. The distribution in both gr oups of the three types of aggregometric curves (types 1, 2 or 3) obta ined in response to ADP 1 mu M as aggregating agent was evaluated. Amo ng MM sufferers, 19 (41%) showed a type 1 curve, while 14 (31%) had a type 2 curve and 13 (28%) showed an irreversible aggregation with a ty pe 3 pattern. Curve distribution in controls was 18 (67%) for type 1, 8 (30%) for type 2 and 1 (3%) for type 3. A significantly (p<0.05) dif ferent distribution of the three curve types between MM and controls w as present, suggesting that a secondary wave of aggregation is more fr equent in MM; the highest difference was due to the observed frequenci es of type 3 curves.