ENDOTHELIN IN MIGRAINE PATIENTS

Endothelins (ETs) are the most potent vasoconstrictors known, and may be the mediators of the vasoconstrictive phase in migraine attacks. We studied 31 previously selected migraine patients with (9) and without (22) aura ici ally and interictally to determine their plasma ET-1 va lues. The mean interictal and ictal values were 5.3 pg/ml (SD 1.8) and 6.4 pg/ml (SD 3.9), respectively. The ictal values were markedly elev ated at the beginning of the migraine attack (<2 h) and declined to in terictal or even lower level later (4 to 6 h) in the course of an atta ck. The local vasoconstriction at the beginning of a migraine attack m ight be ET-mediated secondarily to serotonin activation.