1
|
Filipchuk M, Gassmann J, Castro Zamparella T, Tibaldo MC, Carpinella M, Sesto Tagliavini P, Scarnato P, Goicochea MT, Bruera O, Conci Magris DM, Lisicki M. High rates of (treated) hypothyroidism among chronic migraine patients consulting a specialized headache clinic: are we missing something? Neurol Sci 2021; 43:1249-1254. [PMID: 34283344 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05424-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Roughly three percent of episodic migraine patients evolve into the most burdensome chronic form of this condition every year. While some of the determinants behind this transformation are well established, others are still ill defined. Hypothyroidism is a prevalent endocrinological disorder that can both produce a secondary headache or aggravate a pre-existing primary headache disorder such as migraine. OBJECTIVE We aimed to re-assess the association between hypothyroidism and chronic migraine controlling for factors such as hormone replacement treatment status and bodyweight. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of episodic and chronic migraine patients who consecutively consulted our headache clinic in order to determine the prevalence of adequately treated hypothyroidism in each group. Only patients receiving a stable dose regimen were included. The body mass index and other possibly confounding covariates were also collected. RESULTS Data from 111 migraine patients was included for analysis. Most (88.6%) of chronic migraine sufferers were overusing acute medication. Treated hypothyroidism was significantly more prevalent in chronic migraine patients (29.55%) compared to episodic migraine patients (8.96%). This association was independent of the patients' body mass index or other variables. CONCLUSION Alterations of neuronal metabolism, deficient calcitonin release, or focal inflammation causing local hormonal deactivation might explain why hypothyroidism, in spite of levothyroxine replacement therapy, is associated with migraine chronification. Further studies evaluating these factors are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Filipchuk
- Headache Department, Neuroscience Unit, Conci-Carpinella Institute, Santa Rosa 994, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Jesica Gassmann
- Headache Department, Neuroscience Unit, Conci-Carpinella Institute, Santa Rosa 994, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Tatiana Castro Zamparella
- Headache Department, Neuroscience Unit, Conci-Carpinella Institute, Santa Rosa 994, Córdoba, Argentina.,Institute of Psychological Investigations, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Mariela Carpinella
- Headache Department, Neuroscience Unit, Conci-Carpinella Institute, Santa Rosa 994, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pablo Sesto Tagliavini
- Headache Department, Neuroscience Unit, Conci-Carpinella Institute, Santa Rosa 994, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pablo Scarnato
- Headache Department, Neuroscience Unit, Conci-Carpinella Institute, Santa Rosa 994, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria Teresa Goicochea
- Servicio de Dolor, Departamento de Neurología, Sección Cefaleas, Fleni, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Osvaldo Bruera
- Headache Department, Buenos Aires Institute of Neuroscience (INEBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Headache and Facial Pain Department, Favaloro Foundation University Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Martin Conci Magris
- Headache Department, Neuroscience Unit, Conci-Carpinella Institute, Santa Rosa 994, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marco Lisicki
- Headache Department, Neuroscience Unit, Conci-Carpinella Institute, Santa Rosa 994, Córdoba, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|