Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide as a Biomarker in Migraine

Abstract

Background: Migraine is a prevalent disease with much economic burden and relatively inadequate available treatment. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is the most abundant neuropeptide in the trigeminal nerve and it may be involved in the pathogenesis of migraine. The aim of the study was to determine the plasma level of CGRP in patients with primary headache, and if it could be a potential biomarker for migraine. Methods: The study involved four groups with 20 patients in each one: chronic migraine, episodic migraine, cluster headache and tension type headache subjects, as well as healthy volunteers of matched age and sex as controls. Their venous blood was drawn, plasma was separated, and CGRP was analyzed with commercially available ELISA kit. Results: Plasma CGRP levels were significantly increased in chronic migraine (165.0 ± 17.9 ng/L, range 131.8 - 194.6) as compared with control group (70.5 ± 8.36 ng/L, range 51.7 - 83.65), patients with episodic migraine (94.1 ± 17.83 ng/L, range 69.6 - 121.9), and patients with cluster headache and tension type headache (87.2 ± 13.8 ng/L, range 62.8 - 110.8). Plasma CGRP levels in chronic migraine were significantly higher in patients with aura (191.32 ± 5.09, range 185.45 - 194.60) than without aura (160.30 ± 14.93, range 131.80 - 186.0), and in episodic migraine were significantly higher in patients with aura (109.88 ± 7.54, range 100.70 - 116.30) than without aura (90.16 ± 17.56, range 69.60 - 121.90). Conclusion: The plasma CGRP levels were elevated in patients with chronic migraine and may be considered a potential biomarker for it. This opens the door for a therapeutic role of it for migraine. J Neurol Res. 2017;7(6):103-107 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr460w