Neurochemical metabolite alterations of the occipital lobe in migraine without aura by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Background: Migraine without aura is the most common type of migraine headache, accounting for about 80% of all migraines. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the neurochemical metabolite alterations in the occipital lobe of patients suffering from migraine without aura using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS).

Methods: Fifteen patients suffering from migraine without aura with an occipital plaque and 16 healthy controls were included in this study. Changes in the neurochemical metabolites in the occipital lobe were assessed using ¹H-MRS. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cr), choline (Cho) to Cr and myo-inositol (MI) to NAA were measured by voxel volume at 8 cm³.

Results: The mean NAA/Cr ratio decreased significantly in patients compared to controls. Cho/Cr and MI/NAA ratios increased significantly in patients. In addition, the duration of the disease and the frequency of headache attacks were significantly associated with a decrease in the NAA/Cr ratio and an increase in the Cho/Cr ratio.

Conclusions: Migraine without aura shows a significant association with changes in neurochemical metabolites detectable by ¹H-MRS in the occipital lobe of patients. In addition, changes in metabolic ratios showed a significant relationship with the duration of the disease and the frequency of headache attacks.

Keywords: Migraine without aura; neurochemical metabolite; proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.