Abstract
ObjectivesTo explore the possible concurrent brain functional and structural alterations in patients with migraine without aura (MwoA) patients compared to healthy subjects (HS).MethodsSeventy-two MwoA patients and forty-six HS were recruited. 3D-T1 and resting state fMRI data were collected during the interictal period for MwoA and HS. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for structure analysis and regional homogeneity (Reho) for fMRI analysis were applied. The VBM and Reho maps were overlapped to determine a possible brain region with concurrent functional and structural alteration in MwoA patients. Further analysis of resting state functional connectivity (FC) alteration was applied with this brain region as the seed.ResultsCompared with HS, MwoA patients showed decreased volume in the bilateral superior and inferior colliculus, periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), locus ceruleus, median raphe nuclei (MRN) and dorsal pons medulla junction. MwoA patients showed decreased Reho values in the middle occipital gyrus and inferior occipital gyrus, and increased Reho values in the MRN. Only a region in the MRN showed both structural and functional alteration in MwoA patients. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was no association between volume or Reho values of the MRN and headache frequency, headache intensity, disease duration, self-rating anxiety scale or self-rating depression scale in MwoA patients. Resting state functional connectivity (FC) with the MRN as the seed showed that MwoA patients had increased FC between the MRN and PAG.ConclusionsMRN are involved in the pathophysiology of migraine during the interictal period. This study may help to better understand the migraine symptoms.Trial registrationNCT01152632. Registered 27 June 2010.
Highlights
Migraine is a paroxysmal neurological disorder, classically characterized by unilateral throbbing, pulsating headache associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, or allodynia [1]
median raphe nuclei (MRN) are involved in the pathophysiology of migraine during the interictal period
Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was no association between volume or regional homogeneity (Reho) values of the MRN and headache frequency, headache intensity, disease duration, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) or self-rating depression scale (SDS) in migraine without aura (MwoA) patients (VBM-headache frequency, r = 0.025, p = 0.837; Voxel-based morphometry (VBM)-headache intensity, r = − 0.029, p = 0.809; VBM-disease duration, r = 0.003, p = 0.977; VBM-SAS, r = − 0.039, p = 0.742; VBM-SDS, r = − 0.036, p = 0.762; Reho-headache frequency, r = 0.049, p = 0.682; Reho-headache intensity, r = − 0.023, p = 0.847; Rehodisease duration, r = 0.137, p = 0.250; Reho-SAS, r = 0.058, p = 0.628; Reho-SDS, r = 0.126, p = 0.290)
Summary
Migraine is a paroxysmal neurological disorder, classically characterized by unilateral throbbing, pulsating headache associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, or allodynia [1]. According to the 3rd edition of International Classification of Headache Disorders (the most commonly used criteria in research), there are two major types of migraine: migraine without aura (MwoA) and migraine with aura [4]. About 64% of migraine patients fall into MwoA subtype, which is the most prevalent type among migraineurs [5]. Migraine has become an important public health and social issue due to its high prevalence worldwide [6], large medical burden [7], disabling effects [7], and serious reduction in quality of life [8].
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