Evaluation of oxidative stress in migraine patients with visual aura - the experience of an Rehabilitation Hospital

• Main Authors: Adriana Bulboaca, Gabriela Dogaru, Mihai Blidaru, Angelo Bulboaca, Ioana Stanescu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romanian Association of Balneology, Editura Balneara 2018-09-01
• Series: Balneo Research Journal
• Subjects: migraine; nitric oxide; malondialdehyde; migraine with visual aura; oxidative stress
• Online Access: http://bioclima.ro/Balneo201.pdf

Background: Although there are previous studies regarding the migraine pathophysiology, the clinical entity of migraine with aura can have an different pathophysiological mechanism compared with migraine without aura. One of the most important mechanism in migraine is represented by increasing of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to study the levels of two oxidative stress molecules: nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in migraine with visual aura compared with migraine without aura. Material and Method: a Control group (healthy volunteers) of 37 patients and 58 patient with migraine divided in Group 1 (migraine with visual aura) and Group 2 (migraine without aura) were taken in the study. All the patient were assessed regarding the age, body mass index, blood pressure, basal glycaemia, smoking/non-smoking status, C reactive protein and fibrinogen. Visual aura was assessed regarding transitive negative visual symptoms or positive visual symptoms. Oxidative status was assessed by measurements of the plasma levels of NO and MDA. Results; C reactive protein was significantly increased in both group 1 and 2 compared with control group, but with no statistical difference between group 1 and 2. Oxidative stress (NO and MDA) was significantly increased in both group 1 and 2 compared with control group. There was also found a statistical difference regarding NO and MDA levels between group 1 and 2. Conclusions; patients with visual aura have more intense oxidative stress that can contribute to cortical spreading depression mechanism involved in migraine pathophysiology. This difference between oxidative status in migraine with aura compared with migraine without aura can influence different clinical presentation of these patients. consequently, this difference can be a guide for further individualized therapies for migraine patients.