Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) were measured in 9 migraineurs with interparoxysmal headache (MIH), in 13 patients with major depression in an active phase (5 suffered from MIH), and in 16 age-matched controls. beta-EP was measured by specific RIA after gel-chromatography. While beta-EP levels of depressed patients (58.5 +/- 21.0 fmol/ml, M +/- SD) were similar to those of controls (65.8 +/- 26.6), those of migraineurs (15.0 +/- 11.1) were significantly reduced (p less than 0.01). In depressed patients also suffering from MIH, beta-EP concentrations (22.8 +/- 7.2, p less than 0.05) were half those reported in depressed patients without pain problems. The reduced CSF beta-EP levels in patients whose headache and depression coexist support the notion that this neuropeptide is concerned with chronic pain, independently of the affective state
CSF beta-EP in headache and depression.
GENAZZANI, ANDREA
1985-01-01
Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) were measured in 9 migraineurs with interparoxysmal headache (MIH), in 13 patients with major depression in an active phase (5 suffered from MIH), and in 16 age-matched controls. beta-EP was measured by specific RIA after gel-chromatography. While beta-EP levels of depressed patients (58.5 +/- 21.0 fmol/ml, M +/- SD) were similar to those of controls (65.8 +/- 26.6), those of migraineurs (15.0 +/- 11.1) were significantly reduced (p less than 0.01). In depressed patients also suffering from MIH, beta-EP concentrations (22.8 +/- 7.2, p less than 0.05) were half those reported in depressed patients without pain problems. The reduced CSF beta-EP levels in patients whose headache and depression coexist support the notion that this neuropeptide is concerned with chronic pain, independently of the affective stateI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
