Allergic rhinitis patients associated with migraine: effect of treatment of allergic rhinitis on migrainous attack

• Main Authors: Reham Farouk Zittoon, Dina Ibrahim Ahmed, Nagy Michael Iskander, Yasser Taha Madian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2021-02-01
• Series: The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology
• Subjects: Migraine; Allergic rhinitis; Antihistamine; Intranasal corticosteroid
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-021-00077-x
• ISSN: 1012-5574; 2090-8539

Abstract Background Allergy immunology specialists frequently encounter with diagnosis of migraine headache; this is a prospective study to assess the ability of the treatment of allergic rhinitis in patients having migraine to decrease the attacks of migraine. Results Between June 2016 and Feb. 2019, 58 patients suffer from migraine and having positive allergic symptoms for all patients. CBC with differential, nasal smear and IgE test assessment of migraine disability assessment score, and complete otorhinology examination were done pretreatment and 3 months post treatment score to know the effect of the treatment of allergic rhinitis on the attack of migraine. The mean age of patients was 40 years old. Age distribution was between 18 and 59 years old. Sex was also distributed and found 21 males and 37 females, showing more presented in females. Hemoglobin was found between 10.8 and 12.4 mg/dl, with mean 11.37 mg/dl; IgE test was between 5 and 800 IU/ml, with mean 171.29 IU/ml; no patients were included in grade I while the majority were included in grade III. We noticed that patients improved from allergic rhinitis and migranous attack at the same time had 43.1% while patients improved allergic rhinitis but migraine became less frequent and less sever were 15.52% (partially improved). Patients improved allergic rhinitis. Grade I no pain showed statistically significant difference, also grade III moderate pain showed statistically significant difference. IgE level in improved cases around 88.4. Conclusion There is strong relation between migraine and allergic rhinitis; the use of intranasal corticosteroid sprays and oral antihistaminic for 3 months for treatment of migraine associated with allergic rhinitis which led to decrease in the prevalence and frequency.