SYNOPSIS The autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions of 60 migraine patients, aged from 23 to 50 years, wereinvestigated during headache‐free intervals by utilizing a number of cardiovascular reflexes as indices.Thirty‐five healthy subjects of similar age served as a control group. The pulse rate (R‐R‐interval) variationwas recorded in normal and deep breathing, in the Valsalva manoeuvre, and in an orthostatic test (a tilttable was used); and the blood pressure reactions were recorded in an orthostatic test and in an isometricwork (hand grip) test.There were significant differences in the results between migraine patients and control subjects in theR‐R‐interval variation ratio, both in normal and deep breathing tests and in the Valsalva manoeuvre. Thedifferences between migraine patients and controls in pulse rate variation in orthostatic test and in bloodpressure reactions in isometric work test were highly significant (p < 0.001 ). There were no statisticallysignificant differences in cardiovascular reflex responses of various subgroups of migraine patients(common‐classic, frequent‐infrequent attacks, normal‐abnormal EEGs). These results suggest mildparasympathetic hypo function, but more definite sympathetic hypofunction (Valsalva manoeuvre,orthostatic test and isometric work test) in adult migraine patients during headache‐free intervals.

SYNOPSIS Autonomic nervous system functions were studied in 188 patients with migraine during headache free intervals by measuring cardiovascular reflex responses. Eighty‐five healthy subjects served as a control group. Pulse rate (R‐R‐ interval) variation in normal and deep breathing, during Valsalva manoeuvre and orthostatic test was diminished in migraine patients. Diastolic blood pressure rises in orthostatic test and isometric work test were lower than in the controls. The results of patients with classic and common migraine did not deviate from each other. The same was true for the results of the female and male patients. The results of the patients with frequent migraine attacks (>4/month) showed more severe disturbance than those with infrequent attacks. Disturbances gradually developed with age, being minimal or totally lacking in young migraine patients. The results confirm the development of sympathetic and parasympathetic hypofunction in migraine patients during the course of the disorder.

SYNOPSISIn twenty-one migraine patients, cardiovascular reflex responses and noradrenaline (NA) levels were measured before and after four weeks of calcium antagonist nimodipine medication. Nineteen healthy subjects served as a control group for cardiovascular reflex responses and ten of them as a control group for noradrenaline levels.Neither the cardiovascular reflexes nor the noradrenaline levels differed significantly when the values before and after four weeks of nimodipine medication were compared with each other.The mean pulse rate reaction connected with both normal and deep breathing differed significantly when the results of migraine patients and controls were compared with each other, this result suggesting subtle parasympathetic hypofunction in migraine patients. When the mean Valsalva ratios and the mean postural pulse rate reaction ratios were compared, the ratios in migraine patients were significantly lower than in control subjects (p<0.025), suggesting sympathetic hypofunction in migraine patients. The mean diastolic blood pressure rise in migraineurs in the isometric work test was 15.2 ± 9.4 and in controls 24.0 ± 9.4 (p<0.001). The baseline levels of the NA determinations did not differ when the values of migraineurs and controls were compared with each other; but after 3 minutes of standing, the rise in NA levels in migraine patients was significantly lower than in controls (p<0.05). These results suggest sympathetic hypofunction in migraineurs.

SYNOPSIS The cardiovascular reflex responses of 10 migraine patients were recorded during both migraine attacks andheadache‐free intervals. Ten healthy subjects of similar age and sex served as a control group.When the results of the measurements for migraine patients performing an isometric work test duringmigraine attacks and during headache‐free intervals were compared, during migraine attacks a statisticallysignificant smaller increase in diastolic B.P. was encountered than interictally (p<0.05).When the results for migraine patients during migraine attack, and controls, were compared, statisticallysignificant differences were encountered in the pulse rate variation in Valsalva manoeuvre, in an orthostatictest, and in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure reactions in an isometric work test. The mean Valsalvaratio and R‐R‐interval ratio during the orthostatic test were lower in migraine patients during migraine attackthan in controls, and the mean blood pressure rise in the isometric work test was also lower in the migrainepatients group during attacks.There were no statistically significant differences between the results of the migraine patients duringheadache‐free intervals and those of the control subjects.

SYNOPSIS The autonomic nervous system functions of 49 young migraine patients, aged from 11 to 22 years, wereinvestigated during headache‐free intervals by utilizing a number of cardiovascular reflexes as indices.Twenty‐five healthy subjects of similar age served as a control group. The pulse rate (R‐R‐interval)variation was registered in normal and deep breathing, during the Valsalva manoeuvre, and in anorthostatic test (a tilt table was used); and the blood pressure measurements were performed in anorthostatic test and during an isometric work test. There were no significant differences between the groupof young migraine patients and the control group. Furthermore, all numeric mean values were in thenormal limits given in the literature; only incidental abnormal values were encountered, and even then inboth groups. Moreover, the cardiovascular reflex responses of various subgroups of migraine patients(common‐classic, frequent ‐infrequent attacks, patients with or without autonomic nervous systemdysfunction signs during attacks, normal‐abnormal EEGs), did not significantly differ from each otherduring this interictal recording period. The results suggest intact autonomic nervous system functions inyoung migraine patients during headache free intervals.