Abnormal platelet mitochondrial function in patients affected by migraine with and without aura

• Published in: Cephalalgia Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 21
• Main Authors: Sangiorgi, S, Mochi, M, Riva, R, Cortelli, P, Monari, L, Pierangeli, G, Montagna, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.02.1994
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Blood Platelets - enzymology; Blood Platelets - physiology; Citrate (si)-Synthase - blood; Citrate (si)-Synthase - deficiency; Cytochrome-c Oxidase Deficiency; Electron Transport; Electron Transport Complex IV - blood; Energy Metabolism; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders - blood; Migraine Disorders - classification; Mitochondria - enzymology; Mitochondria - physiology; Monoamine Oxidase - blood; NADH Dehydrogenase - blood; NADH Dehydrogenase - deficiency; Succinate Dehydrogenase - blood
• ISSN: 0333-1024; 1468-2982
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.1994.1401021.x

To investigate energy metabolism in migraine, we determined platelet mitochondrial enzyme activities in 40 patients with migraine with aura and in 40 patients with migraine without aura during attack-free intervals and in 24 healthy control subjects. NADH-dehydrogenase, citrate synthase and cytochrome-c-oxidase activities in both patient groups were significantly lower than in controls (p < 0.01), while NADH-cytochrome-c-reductase activity was reduced only in migraine with aura (p < 0.01). No alteration in succinate-dehydrogenase was observed. Monoamine-oxidase activity differed between sexes (p < 0.05) but within each sex group no difference was observed between patients and controls. We hypothesize that the defect in mitochondrial enzymes observed indicates a systemic impairment of mitochondrial function in migraine patients.