The Pathophysiological Relationship Between Migraine and SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Abstract

People with migraine, and individuals with other neurological conditions, have suffered in multiple aspects during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper will discuss the factors that impacted the neurology department. The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in late 2019 has generated new challenges in healthcare systems across the globe. Similar to the fields of pulmonology and cardiology that saw an increase in research, the neurology department was in search of possible relationships between COVID-19 and other medical conditions. Research on the possible common pathophysiological mechanism between COVID-19 and migraine is currently being studied. The most recent hypothesis suggests the following: migraine is caused by an increased release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from the trigeminal ganglion, which will cause an increase in nitric oxide and IL-1β, resulting in vasodilation and inducing hyperalgesia. COVID-19 causes an increase in nod-like receptor protein 3, which causes the production of IL-1β and again induces an inflammatory response. This review article looks at the mechanisms of migraine and COVID-19, and tries to link a common pathophysiological pathway between the two. This report also serves as a gateway for further research regarding possible management that could potentially target both of these mechanisms.