Serum cytokine and pro-brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with migraine

Objective: Although mi- graine has been related with an increased risk for ischemic stroke and cardiovascular events, there is insufficient data for role of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) in migraine. In present case-control study, serum levels of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, and IL-10) of migraine patients were investigated to deter- mine the role of cytokines and pro-BNP in mi- graine. Patients and Methods: Sixty-four consecu- tive newly diagnosed migraine patients and 34 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum TNF-α, IL- 1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and pro-BNP levels were mea- sured by using a chemiluminescence assay. Results: Migraine patients had significantly higher concentrations of IL-1β and IL-6 com- pared with the healthy controls (for IL-1β; 5.73 ± 1.44 vs. 4.90±1.40 pg/mL, respectively, p =0.006; for IL-6; 3.1±1.44 vs. 2.40±0.22 pg/mL, respec- tively, p =0.007). The mean IL-10 levels were found to be significantly lower in migraine pa- tients (3.38±2.93 pg/mL) than controls (6.76 ± 1.48 pg/mL) (p =0.007). There were no differ- ences in TNF-α (27.2±48.1 vs. 15.4±0.7) and IL-2 (1017±661 vs. 1153±228) levels between pa- tients with migraine and healthy controls. Mi- graine patients had higher concentrations of pro-BNP compared with healthy controls (27.0 ± 28.0 versus 13.2±8.6, p =0.006). Conclusions: Migraine patients have higher serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels, and lower IL-10 levels than healthy subjects. These findings support that cytokines may be related to neu- rogenic inflammation in the pathogenesis of migraine. Also, increased pro-BNP may indi- cate to preclinical cardiac involvement in pa- tients with migraine.