Correlation of calcitonin gene-related peptide and regional cerebral blood flow in patients with migraine attacks

Objective To investigate the changes of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and their correlation in patients with migraine. Methods Thirty-eight patients with acute migraineurs, collected in our hospital from May 2010 to May 2012, and 20 healthy controls were enrolled; their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed; brain SPECT examination was performed and CGRP was determined; 14 patients in the intermission of migraine (after treatment) were reexamined. The rCBF and plasma concentration of CGRP were analyzed and the correlation was compared. Results (1) The rCBF was decreased during migraine attacks; statistical significances were noted between patients during migraine attacks and healthy controls (the left frontal lobe: 0.97±0.03 vs. 1.02±0.04, the right one: 0.96±0.04 vs. 1.00±0.02; the left temporal lobe: 0.89±0.04 vs. 0.98±0.06, the right temporal lobe: 0.90±0.07 vs. 1.02±0.09, P<0.05); (2) The rCBF was increased in the 14 intermittent patients (after treatment); statistical significances were noted between intermittent patients and attack patients (before treatment) (left frontal lobe: 1.00±0.03 vs. 0.98±0.03, left temporal lobe: 0.93±0.05 vs. 0.90±0.05, right temporal lobe: 0.98±0.04 vs. 0.92±0.06, right occipital lobe: 1.02±0.02 vs. 1.00±0.03, P<0.05); (3) The plasma concentrations of CGRP (63.37±5.70, 51.39±7.33) during migraine attacks and intermission were statistically higher than healthy controls (46.09±6.67, P<0.05); (4) Pearson correlation coefficient between plasma concentration of CGRP and rCBF of two hemisphere during migraine attacks was noted (r=-0.375, P=0.020), while no correlation was noted in patients at intermission period (r=0.436, P=0.119) and healthy controls (r=0.112, P=0.638). Conclusion The rCBF is low and the plasma concentration of CGRP is high during migraine attacks, and there is correlation between the two factors. Key words: Migraine; Calcitonin gene-related peptide; Single photon emission computed tomography; Regional cerebral blood flow