Neurophysiological features of the nociceptive trigeminal pathway in abdominally obese migraineurs

Objective: The aim of this study were to assess clinical (cutaneous allodynia) and neurophysiological (R2 nBR component) markers of the nociceptive trigeminal-cervical pathway sensitization in the abdominally obese patients with episodic (EM) and chronic migraine (CM).

Patients and methods: Materials and methods: It had been recorded nBR within interictal period in 79 migraineurs with EM and CM who had abdominal obesity (AO) and normal body weight (NBW).

Results: Results: Patients with EM and AO had significantly lower pain thresholds than patients with EM and NBW - 0,55 (0,34-0,63) μV vs 0,70 (0,59-1,03) μV. The mean latency of R2 nBR component was significantly decreased in patients who had EM and AO (36,59 (31,95-42,41) ms) compared to patients who had EM and NBW(46,75 (42,93-52,34) ms). It had been revealed significant increasing of the mean amplitude of the component R2 nBR in patients who had EM and AO (158 (115-197) μV) compared to patients who had EM and NBW (124 (76-144) μV). In patients who had CM and AO, it had been found direct positive correlation between the amplitude of R2 nBR and severity of cutaneous allodynia - τ=0,4 (p=0,03), as well as found negative correlation between the latency of R2 nBR and severity of cutaneous allodynia - τ=-0,44 (p=0,02) within the interictal period of migraine.

Conclusion: Conclusions: Neurophysiological findings may indirectly indicate faster migraine chronification in patients with EM and AO.

Keywords: Chronic migraine; Abdominal obesity; Episodic migraine; Nociceptive blink reflex; Trigeminal pathway.