[Relationship between migraine-type headache in childhood with cow's milk allergy and egg-white allergy].

OBJECTIVE

Migraine is a very common headache disorder. Due to the co-occurrence of migraine and allergic disorders, allergic mechanisms have been thought to play a role in migraine pathophysiology. This study aimed to investigate the association between cow's milk allergy and egg-white allergy and migraine-type headache of childhood.

METHODS

We included 39 children with migraine-type headache and 167 children with no headache who had been evaluated previously in a school screening study program. Egg-white and cow's milk-specific IgE levels were measured for all involved subjects.

RESULTS

Specific IgE levels were positive for cow's milk in 4 children and for egg-white in 2 children, respectively. No meaningful relationship was detected between food allergies and migraine. However, specific IgE levels for egg-white were significantly higher in migraineurs (p=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood migraine does not appear to be associated with cow's milk or egg-white allergy. However, the elevation of egg-white-specific IgE levels in migraine-type headache may signify the possible presence of shared pathogenetic pathways in the development of migraine and food allergies.