Cerebral blood flow velocity in migraine and chronic tension-type headache patients

• Published in: Journal of pain research Vol. 11; pp. 661 - 666
• Main Authors: Karacay Ozkalayci, S, Nazliel, B, Batur Caglayan, H Z, Irkec, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01-01-2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Age; Arteries; Blood flow; cerebral blood flow; Diagnostic imaging; Disease; Flow velocity; Headache; Headaches; Migraine; migraine with aura; migraine without aura; Neurosciences; Original Research; Studies; Tension headache; tension-type headache; Tomography; transcranial Doppler ultrasonography; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound imaging; Veins & arteries; Women's health; United States > US; transcranial Doppler ultrasonography; cerebral blood flow; migraine with aura; tension-type headache; migraine without aura
• ISSN: 1178-7090; 1178-7090
• DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S144183

The present study seeks to use transcranial Doppler ultrasound to evaluate cerebral blood flow velocities in anterior and posterior circulation arteries, during an attack-free episode in migraine patients, with and without aura, as well as in chronic tension-type headache patients who were not receiving prophylactic medication.
A total of 50 patients (35 female, 15 male) were evaluated during a headache-free episode: 30 migraine patients without aura (mean age: 32±8 years), 10 migraine patients with aura (mean age: 34±4 years), and 10 patients with chronic tension-type headache (mean age: 34±5 years).
No significant difference was present between anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral and vertebral arteries' blood flow velocities between migraine patients, with and without aura, or in patients with a tension-type headache, and normal controls (
>0.05). However, a significant increase in basilar artery cerebral blood flow velocities relative to controls was present in patients with a tension-type headache (
>0.001).
It is difficult to predict the main reason for the significant increase in basilar artery blood flow velocities in patients with chronic tension-type headache. It may be due to constriction of conductance or the dilatation of the resistance vessels.