Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of brain alterations in patients with migraine. Functional and vascular changes in the brain are related to the presence and severity of cutaneous allodynia. However, the association between brain structural changes and cutaneous allodynia has not been yet investigated in patients with migraine. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the severity of cutaneous allodynia, migraine features, and the thickness and volume of the somatosensory cortex. Forty-five patients with migraine, with and without aura and chronic migraine, were included. Volunteers filled out the Allodynia Symptom Questionnaire (ASC-12/Brazil) and were evaluated via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The images were inspected by a blinded neuroradiologist and analyzed with Freesurfer software. Correlation tests and a linear regression model were used to evaluate the relationship among the outcomes. The somatosensory cortex thickness and volume were not different among migraine subgroups (p > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the somatosensory thickness and volume with the ASC-12/Brazil, migraine frequency, intensity, migraine onset or aura frequency. The ASC-12/Brazil score variability cannot be predicted by the somatosensory cortex thickness or volume. The results show that the somatosensory cortex morphology is neither associated with cutaneous allodynia nor with migraine features among migraineurs.
Highlights
The aura can proceed or accompany the headache attack and it is defined by reversible signs and symptoms, such as visual hallucinations, paresthesia, and dizziness, among others [4]. Previous studies relate this symptom to cortical spreading depression (CSD), which consists of a wave of electrical activity and blood flow reduction that propagates in the cortex for a few minutes [4,5,6]
Our study refuted the initial hypothesis that the morphology of the somatosensory cortex would be related to the presence and severity of cutaneous allodynia among patients with different migraine diagnosis
Our study suggests that the presence of cutaneous allodynia is not related to morphological changes of the somatosensory cortex, headache features, or different migraine subtypes
Summary
Migraine is a primary headache present in 12% of the worldwide population. Migraine attacks may be accompanied by an aura [3]. The aura can proceed or accompany the headache attack and it is defined by reversible signs and symptoms, such as visual hallucinations, paresthesia, and dizziness, among others [4]. Previous studies relate this symptom to cortical spreading depression (CSD), which consists of a wave of electrical activity and blood flow reduction that propagates in the cortex for a few minutes [4,5,6]
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