Title

Neuropeptides And Other Chemical Mediators, And The Role Of Antiinflammatory Drugs In Primary Headaches

Keywords

Anti-inflammatory drugs; Headache; Neuropeptide

Abstract

Primary headaches including the migraine, cluster, and tension headaches are common neurological disorders which cause pain and disability to the patients. The pathomechanism of migraine is not very well understood however, current clinical findings indicate a possible primary brain disorder due to activation of the brain and brainstem as triggers for migraine. The headache phase of migraine may be due to activation of the peripheral nerves including the trigeminal nerve and others innervating the cranial blood vessels and release of vasoactive substances including the calcitonin generelated peptides (CGRP), possibly leading to vasodilation and brainstem activation. Several of our studies in an experimental model of pain using electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion in rats focused on various neuropeptides release from the peripheral and central trigeminal nerve terminals, however, clinically only the CGRP in migraine and CGRP and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in cluster headache were found in patient's blood. Although several drugs are used in the treatment of migraine, the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the triptan family of drugs are the first choice drugs recommended for the treatment of acute migraine headache. Although clinically very few studies detected other vasoactive/inflammatory molecules in the blood of migraine patients, sensitization of peripheral axons can involve many inflammatory mediators affecting the peripheral tissue substrates of pain. Moreover, central sensitization in the trigeminal nucleus can also contribute to additional pain responses. This article reviews neuropeptides and other molecules involved in primary headaches and major drugs proposed for their treatment in recent years. © 2010 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Publication Title

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry

Volume

9

Issue

3

Number of Pages

170-188

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.2174/1871523011009030170

Socpus ID

77958452903 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/77958452903

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