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Basic mechanisms of migraine and its acute treatment.

Edvinsson, Lars LU ; Villalón, Carlos M and Maassenvandenbrink, Antoinette (2012) In Pharmacology and Therapeutics 136(3). p.319-333
Abstract
Migraine is a neurovascular disorder characterized by recurrent unilateral headaches accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia. Current theories suggest that the initiation of a migraine attack involves a primary event in the central nervous system (CNS), probably involving a combination of genetic changes in ion channels and environmental changes, which renders the individual more sensitive to environmental factors; this may, in turn, result in a wave of cortical spreading depression (CSD) when the attack is initiated. Genetically, migraine is a complex familial disorder in which the severity and the susceptibility of individuals are most likely governed by several genes that vary between families. Early PET studies... (More)
Migraine is a neurovascular disorder characterized by recurrent unilateral headaches accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia. Current theories suggest that the initiation of a migraine attack involves a primary event in the central nervous system (CNS), probably involving a combination of genetic changes in ion channels and environmental changes, which renders the individual more sensitive to environmental factors; this may, in turn, result in a wave of cortical spreading depression (CSD) when the attack is initiated. Genetically, migraine is a complex familial disorder in which the severity and the susceptibility of individuals are most likely governed by several genes that vary between families. Early PET studies have suggested the involvement of a migraine active region in the brainstem. Migraine headache is associated with trigeminal nerve activation and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release from the trigeminovascular system. Administration of triptans (5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonists) causes the headache to subside and the levels of CGRP to normalize. Moreover, administration of CGRP receptor antagonists aborts the headache. Recent immunohistochemical and pharmacological results suggest that the trigeminal system has receptors for CGRP; further, 5-HT(1B/1D) receptors, which inhibit the action of CGRP in pain transmission when activated, have been demonstrated. This offers an explanation for the treatment response. The present review provides an updated analysis of the basic mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of migraine and the various pharmacological approaches (including 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonists, CGRP receptor antagonists and glutamate receptor antagonists) that have shown efficacy for the acute treatment of this disorder. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
volume
136
issue
3
pages
319 - 333
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000311022900005
  • pmid:22939884
  • scopus:84867886566
  • pmid:22939884
ISSN
0163-7258
DOI
10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.08.011
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
93327c88-e993-4e7e-a61a-95dd84d09a51 (old id 3124487)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22939884?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:56:15
date last changed
2024-02-22 14:14:12
@article{93327c88-e993-4e7e-a61a-95dd84d09a51,
  abstract     = {{Migraine is a neurovascular disorder characterized by recurrent unilateral headaches accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia. Current theories suggest that the initiation of a migraine attack involves a primary event in the central nervous system (CNS), probably involving a combination of genetic changes in ion channels and environmental changes, which renders the individual more sensitive to environmental factors; this may, in turn, result in a wave of cortical spreading depression (CSD) when the attack is initiated. Genetically, migraine is a complex familial disorder in which the severity and the susceptibility of individuals are most likely governed by several genes that vary between families. Early PET studies have suggested the involvement of a migraine active region in the brainstem. Migraine headache is associated with trigeminal nerve activation and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release from the trigeminovascular system. Administration of triptans (5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonists) causes the headache to subside and the levels of CGRP to normalize. Moreover, administration of CGRP receptor antagonists aborts the headache. Recent immunohistochemical and pharmacological results suggest that the trigeminal system has receptors for CGRP; further, 5-HT(1B/1D) receptors, which inhibit the action of CGRP in pain transmission when activated, have been demonstrated. This offers an explanation for the treatment response. The present review provides an updated analysis of the basic mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of migraine and the various pharmacological approaches (including 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonists, CGRP receptor antagonists and glutamate receptor antagonists) that have shown efficacy for the acute treatment of this disorder.}},
  author       = {{Edvinsson, Lars and Villalón, Carlos M and Maassenvandenbrink, Antoinette}},
  issn         = {{0163-7258}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{319--333}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Pharmacology and Therapeutics}},
  title        = {{Basic mechanisms of migraine and its acute treatment.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.08.011}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.pharmthera.2012.08.011}},
  volume       = {{136}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}