Increased asymmetric dimethylarginine and nitric oxide levels in patients with migraine

Abstract

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has been found as correlated with endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. There are few studies regarding ADMA and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with migraine and alterations of ADMA and NO levels during migraine attack are not well-known. Therefore, in present study, we aimed to measure NO and ADMA levels in patients with migraine and compare them with the control group to investigate the correlation between migraine, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. The migraine group consisted of 59 patients, including 22 suffering from migraine with aura and 37 suffering from migraine without aura. The control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers without headache. The patients in migraine group were divided into subgroups based on whether attack period was present or not and whether it was migraine with or without aura. Plasma ADMA levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Migraine patients had higher concentrations of NO (35.6 ± 7.7, 31.0 ± 6.2 μmol/L, respectively, p = 0.005) and ADMA (0.409 ± 0.028, 0.381 ± 0.044 μmol/L, respectively, p = 0.001) levels when compared with the healthy controls. During migraine attack, NO and ADMA levels were found to be significantly higher in migraine group as compared to control group (respectively, p = 0.015, p = 0.014). Similarly, NO and ADMA levels in the patients with migraine in the interictal period were found to be significantly higher as compared to control group (p = 0.011, p = 0.003). In conclusion, higher ADMA and NO levels of patients with migraine supported that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction may have a role in migraine pathogenesis.

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3): A Molecular Marker of Endothelial Dysfunction in Chronic Migraine

“…A systematic review has evaluated more than 600 reports measuring levels of biomarkers of inflammation, prothrombotic state, endothelial activation and endothelial repair [4] in migraine and concluded that results are conflicting and there are not definite vascular biomarkers in migraine patients. In the following years, novel potential markers of endothelial dysfunction were brought up and evaluated, such as endothelial microparticles (EMPs) [25], asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) [26,27], and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) [28,29]. These molecules and cells play a role in endothelial regeneration and repair of injured vessels.…”

Procyanidin B2 from lotus seedpod regulate NO/ADMA/DDAH pathway to treat insomnia in rats

“…DDAH‐1 spreads throughout the body, specially distributes in the kidney and liver. DDAH‐2 is expressed in the blood vessels, heart, endothelium, kidney, and placenta . To begin with, NO is described as a sleep‐facilitating agent.…”

“…Sleep regulates paracapsular NOS expressing neurons of the amygdala . Then, high concentrations of ADMA and elevated DDAH‐1 expression are investigated in the brain and spinal cord . Selley et al.…”

New insights into the cardiovascular risk of migraine and the role of white matter hyperintensities: is gold all that glitters?

“…Migraineurs have also been shown to present higher concentrations of nitric oxide (NO, 35.6 ± 7.7, 31.0 ± 6.2 μmol/L, respectively, p = 0.005) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA, 0.409 ± 0.028, 0.381 ± 0.044 μmol/L, respectively, p = 0.001) in comparison with controls. During the crises, NO and ADMA concentrations were significantly higher in migraine patients compared to healthy subjects (p = 0.015 and p = 0.014, respectively) [25]. …”