An Oxidative Stress Marker in Pediatric Migraine Patients: Dynamic Thiol-Disulfide Homeostasis

Abstract

Objective: Migraine is a common disease in childhood. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of migraine. Dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis is proven to be a marker of oxidative stress. We aimed to investigate the correlation between migraine and dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis. Material and Methods:A total of 141 children (71 migrain and 70 controls) were included. The serum total thiol, native thiol, and disulfide levels were measured and the ratios of disulfide/native thiol, disulfide/total thiol and native thiol/total thiol were compared between migraine patients and healthy children during attack-free period.Results: Native thiol levels and native thiol/total thiol ratio were significantly lower in the migraine group than the control group (p=0.022, p=0.005, respectively); whereas disulfide levels, disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios were significantly higher in the migraine group than the control group (p=0.039, p=0.022, p=0.005 respectively). Conclusion:Our results demonstrate that there is an ongoing oxidative process in pediatric migraineurs even during attack-free period. This result may shed light on further studies analyzing dynamic changes in the oxidant-antioxidant balance during the attack and the aura phase to support the presence and importance of oxidative stress in pediatric migraine.