TY - JOUR
T1 - Abnormal tyrosine metabolism in chronic cluster headache
AU - D'Andrea, Giovanni
AU - Leone, Massimo
AU - Bussone, Gennaro
AU - Fiore, Paola Di
AU - Bolner, Andrea
AU - Aguggia, Marco
AU - Saracco, Maria Gabriella
AU - Perini, Francesco
AU - Giordano, Giuseppe
AU - Giordano, Giuseppe
AU - Gucciardi, Antonina
AU - Leon, Alberta
PY - 2017/2/1
Y1 - 2017/2/1
N2 - © International Headache Society. Objective Episodic cluster headache is characterized by abnormalities in tyrosine metabolism (i.e. elevated levels of dopamine, tyramine, octopamine and synephrine and low levels of noradrenalin in plasma and platelets.) It is unknown, however, if such biochemical anomalies are present and/or constitute a predisposing factor in chronic cluster headache. To test this hypothesis, we measured the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline together with those of elusive amines, such as tyramine, octopamine and synephrine, in plasma of chronic cluster patients and control individuals. Methods Plasma levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and trace amines, including tyramine, octopamine and synephrine, were measured in a group of 23 chronic cluster headache patients (10 chronic cluster ab initio and 13 transformed from episodic cluster), and 16 control participants. Results The plasma levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and tyramine were several times higher in chronic cluster headache patients compared with controls. The levels of octopamine and synephrine were significantly lower in plasma of these patients with respect to control individuals. Conclusions These results suggest that anomalies in tyrosine metabolism play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic cluster headache and constitute a predisposing factor for the transformation of the episodic into a chronic form of this primary headache.
AB - © International Headache Society. Objective Episodic cluster headache is characterized by abnormalities in tyrosine metabolism (i.e. elevated levels of dopamine, tyramine, octopamine and synephrine and low levels of noradrenalin in plasma and platelets.) It is unknown, however, if such biochemical anomalies are present and/or constitute a predisposing factor in chronic cluster headache. To test this hypothesis, we measured the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline together with those of elusive amines, such as tyramine, octopamine and synephrine, in plasma of chronic cluster patients and control individuals. Methods Plasma levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and trace amines, including tyramine, octopamine and synephrine, were measured in a group of 23 chronic cluster headache patients (10 chronic cluster ab initio and 13 transformed from episodic cluster), and 16 control participants. Results The plasma levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and tyramine were several times higher in chronic cluster headache patients compared with controls. The levels of octopamine and synephrine were significantly lower in plasma of these patients with respect to control individuals. Conclusions These results suggest that anomalies in tyrosine metabolism play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic cluster headache and constitute a predisposing factor for the transformation of the episodic into a chronic form of this primary headache.
KW - headache
KW - norepinephrine
KW - octopamine
KW - trace amines
KW - tyramine
KW - Tyrosine
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U2 - 10.1177/0333102416640502
DO - 10.1177/0333102416640502
M3 - Article
C2 - 27009563
AN - SCOPUS:85011581614
VL - 37
SP - 148
EP - 153
JO - Cephalalgia
JF - Cephalalgia
SN - 0333-1024
IS - 2
ER -