A cyclic pain: The pathophysiology and treatment of menstrual migraine

Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey

Volumn 68, Issue 2, 2013, Pages 130-140

  Mathew, Paul G ^a,b,c   Dun, Erica C ^d   Luo, Jin Jun ^e,f  

^a HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL   (United States)

^b Brigham and Women's/Faulkner Hospitals   (United States)

^c Cambridge Health Alliance   (United States)

^d Atlanta Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Reproductive Medicine   (United States)

^e TEMPLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

^f LANKENAU HOSPITAL   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

4 AMINOBUTYRIC ACID CARRIER; AMINOTRANSFERASE; ANTICONVULSIVE AGENT; BETA ENDORPHIN; CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKING AGENT; CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN; CONJUGATED ESTROGEN; DIHYDROERGOTAMINE; ENDOTHELIN RECEPTOR; EPSIN; ESTROGEN; ETHINYLESTRADIOL; FROVATRIPTAN; GONADORELIN; NAPROXEN; NARATRIPTAN; NEUROKININ A; NONSTEROID ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENT; ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE AGENT; PHOSPHOSERINE; PROSTAGLANDIN F2; SUMATRIPTAN; SYNAPSIN II; TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANT AGENT; TRIPTAN DERIVATIVE; ZINC FINGER PROTEIN;

ALLODYNIA; ANALGESIA; BARIATRIC SURGERY; CLINICAL FEATURE; CLUSTER HEADACHE; DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE; DISEASE CLASSIFICATION; DNA POLYMORPHISM; DRUG EFFICACY; DRUG MECHANISM; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR; FUNCTIONAL DISEASE; GENETICS; HUMAN; MENSTRUAL CYCLE; MENSTRUAL MIGRAINE; MIGRAINE WITH AURA; MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA; OBESITY; PAIN; PATENT FORAMEN OVALE; PATHOPHYSIOLOGY; POSTMENOPAUSE; PREGNANT WOMAN; PREVALENCE; PROPHYLAXIS; QUALITY OF LIFE; REVIEW; SPREADING CORTICAL DEPRESSION; WOMEN'S HEALTH;

ESTROGENS; FEMALE; HUMANS; MENSTRUAL CYCLE; MIGRAINE DISORDERS; PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME;

EID: 84874387724     PISSN: 00297828     EISSN: 15339866     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/OGX.0b013e31827f2496     Document Type: Review

References (116)

1. Mathew PG, Garza I. Headache. Semin Neurol. 2011;31:5-17.
2. Schwartz BS, Stewart WF, Simon D, et al. Epidemiology of tension-type headache. JAMA. 1998;279:381-383.
3. Mathew PG, Mathew T. Taking care of the challenging tension headache patient. Curr PainHeadache Rep. 2011;15:444-450.
4. International Headache Society. The International Classification of Headache Disorders: Second Edition. Cephalalgia. 2004;24(suppl 1):9-160.
5. Olesen J, Steiner TJ. The International Classification of Headache Disorders: Second Edition (ICHD-II). J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004;75:808-811.
6. Robbins MS, Lipton RB. The epidemiology of primary headache disorders. Semin Neurol. 2010;30:107-119.
7. Bille B. A 40-year follow-up of school children with migraine. Cephalalgia. 1997;17:488-491; discussion 487.
8. Granella F, Sances G, Zanferrari C, et al. Migraine without aura and reproductive life events: a clinical epidemiological study in 1300 women. Headache. 1993;33:385-389.
9. MacGregor EA, Chia H, Vohrah RC, et al. Migraine and menstruation: a pilot study. Cephalalgia. 1990;10:305-310.
10. Johannes CB, Linet MS, Stewart WF, et al. Relationship of headache to phase of the menstrual cycle among young women: a daily diary study. Neurology. 1995;45:1076-1082.
11. Dzoljic E, Sipetic S, Vlajinac H, et al. Prevalence of menstrually related migraine and nonmigraine primary headache in female students of Belgrade University. Headache. 2002;42:185-193.
12. Martin VT.Menstrualmigraine: areview of prophylactic therapies. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2004;8:229-237.
13. AyataC, Jin H, Kudo C, et al. Suppression of cortical spreading depression in migraine prophylaxis. Ann Neurol. 2006;59: 652-661.
14. SomjenGG.Mechanisms of spreading depression andhypoxic spreading depression-like depolarization. Physiol Rev. 2001; 81:1065-1096.
15. Edvinsson L, Jansen Olesen I, Kingman TA, et al. Modification of vasoconstrictor responses in cerebral blood vessels by lesioning of the trigeminal nerve: possible involvement of CGRP. Cephalalgia. 1995;15:373-383.
16. McCulloch J, Uddman R, Kingman TA, et al. Calcitonin generelated peptide: functional role in cerebrovascular regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1986;83:5731-5735.
17. Strong AJ, Fabricius M, Boutelle MG, et al. Spreading and synchronous depressions of cortical activity in acutely injured human brain. Stroke. 2002;33:2738-2743.
18. Eikermann-Haerter K, Ayata C. Cortical spreading depression and migraine. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2010;10:167-173.
19. Eikermann-Haerter K, Kudo C,Moskowitz MA. Cortical spreading depression and estrogen. Headache. 2007;47(suppl 2):S79YS85.
20. Dalkara T, Nozari A,Moskowitz MA.Migraine aura pathophysiology: the role of blood vessels and microembolisation. Lancet Neurol. 2010;9:309-317.
21. Dalkara T, ZervasNT,MoskowitzMA. Fromspreading depression to the trigeminovascular system. Neurol Sci. 2006;27(suppl 2): S86YS90.
22. Somerville BW. A study of migraine in pregnancy. Neurology. 1972;22:824-828.
23. Somerville BW. Estrogen-withdrawal migraine. I. Duration of exposure required and attempted prophylaxis by premenstrual estrogen administration. Neurology. 1975;25:239-244.
24. Somerville BW. Estrogen-withdrawal migraine. II. Attempted prophylaxis by continuous estradiol administration. Neurology. 1975;25:245-250.
25. Somerville BW. The role of estradiol withdrawal in the etiology of menstrual migraine. Neurology. 1972;22:355-365.
26. Puri V, Puri S, Svojanovsky SR, et al. Effects of oestrogen on trigeminal ganglia in culture: implications for hormonal effects on migraine. Cephalalgia. 2006;26:33-42.
27. Rubinow DR, Hoban MC, Grover GN, et al. Changes in plasma hormones across the menstrual cycle in patients with menstrually related mood disorder and in control subjects. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1988;158:5-1511.
28. Amir BY, Yaacov B, Guy B, et al. Headaches in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo-transfer treatment. Headache. 2005;45:215-219.
29. Lichten EM, Lichten JB, Whitty A, et al. The confirmation of a biochemical marker for women's hormonal migraine: the depo-estradiol challenge test. Headache. 1996;36:367-371.
30. Moskowitz MA. The neurobiology of vascular head pain. Ann Neurol. 1984;16:157-168.
31. Behrman HR, Caldwell BV. Prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. In: Yen SSC, Jaffe RB, eds. Reproductive Endocrinology, Physiology, Pathophysiology and Clinical Management. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 1986.
32. Moncada S, Flowers RJ, Vane JR. Prostaglandins, prostacyclin, thromboxane A2, and leukotrienes. In: Goodman L, Gilman A, eds. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 7th ed. New York: MacMillian; 1985.
33. Levine JD, Taiwo YO, Collins SD, et al. Noradrenaline hyperalgesia is mediated through interaction with sympathetic postganglionic neurone terminals rather than activation of primary afferent nociceptors. Nature. 1986;323:158-160.
34. Chan WY. Prostaglandins and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in dysmenorrhea. Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1983; 23:131-149.
35. Nattero G, Allais G, De Lorenzo C, et al. Relevance of prostaglandins in true menstrual migraine.Headache.1989;29:233-238.
36. Ham EA, Cirillo VJ, Zanetti ME, et al. Estrogen-directed synthesis of specific prostaglandins in uterus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1975;72:1420-1424.
37. Joldersma M, Klein-Nulend J, Oleksik AM, et al. Estrogen enhancesmechanical stress induced prostaglandin production by bone cells from elderly women. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2001;280:E436YE442.
38. Hofmann GE, Rao CV, De Leon FD, et al. Human endometrial prostaglandin E2 binding sites and their profiles during the menstrual cycle and in pathologic states. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1985;151:369-375.
39. Sales KJ, Jabbour HN. Cyclooxygenase enzymes and prostaglandins in pathology of the endometrium. Reproduction. 2003;126:559-567.
40. Polinsky RJ, Brown RT, Lee GK, et al. beta-Endorphin, ACTH, and catecholamine responses in chronic autonomic failure. Ann Neurol. 1987;21:573-577.
41. The Reality of the "Runner's High." UPMC SportsMedicine. University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. Available at: http://www.upmc.com/healthatoz/pages/HealthLibrary.aspx?chunkiid=13764. Accessed December 15, 2011.
42. Dyer RG, Bicknell RJ. Brain Opioid Systems in Reproduction. New York: Oxford University Press; 1989.
43. De Cree C. Endogenous opioid peptides in the control of the normal menstrual cycle and their possible role in athletic menstrual irregularities. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1989;44:720-732.
44. Polinsky G, Martignoni E. beta-Endorphin, ACTH, and catecholamine responses in chronic autonomic failure. Ann Neurol. 1987;21:573-577.
45. Nappi G, Martignoni E. Significance of hormonal changes in primary headache disorders. In: Olesen J, Edvinsson L, eds. Basic Mechanisms of Headache. New York: Elsevier; 1988.
46. Yen SSC. Neuroendocrine control of hypophyseal function. In: Yen SSC, Jaffe RB, eds. Reproductive Endocrinology, Physiology, Pathophysiology and Clinical Management. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 1986.
47. Jaffe RB, Plosker S, Marshall L, et al. Neuromodulatory regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatile discharge in women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990;163:1727-1731.
48. Chen Z, Yuhanna IS, Galcheva-Gargova Z, et al. Estrogen receptor alpha mediates the nongenomic activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by estrogen. J Clin Invest. 1999;103: 401-406.
49. Simoncini T, Hafezi-Moghadam A, Brazil DP, et al. Interaction of oestrogen receptor with the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase. Nature. 2000;407:538-541.
50. Colson NJ, Lea RA, Quinlan S, et al. Investigation of hormone receptor genes in migraine. Neurogenetics. 2005;6:17-23.
51. Facchinetti F, Nappi RE, Tirelli A, et al. Hormone supplementation differently affects migraine in postmenopausal women. Headache. 2002;42:924-929.
52. Martin VT, Behbehani M. Ovarian hormones and migraine headache: understanding mechanisms and pathogenesis, part 2. Headache. 2006;46:365-386.
53. Martin VT, Behbehani M. Ovarian hormones and migraine headache: understanding mechanisms and pathogenesis, part I. Headache. 2006;46:3-23.
54. Losel RM, Falkenstein E, Feuring M, et al. Nongenomic steroid action: controversies, questions, and answers. Physiol Rev. 2003;83:965-1016.
55. Genazzani AR, Petraglia F, Volpe A, et al. Estrogen changes as a critical factor in modulation of central opioid tonus: possible correlations with post-menopausal migraine. Cephalalgia. 1985;5(suppl 2):212-214.
56. Fioroni L, Martignoni E, Facchinetti F. Changes of neuroendocrine axes in patients with menstrual migraine. Cephalalgia. 1995;15:297-300.
57. Benedetto C, Allais G, Ciochetto D, et al. Pathophysiological aspects of menstrual migraine. Cephalalgia. 1997;17(suppl 20): 32-34.
58. Sarchielli P, Tognoloni M, Russo S, et al. Variations in the platelet arginine/nitric oxide pathway during the ovarian cycle in females affected by menstrual migraine. Cephalalgia. 1996;16:468-475.
59. Kara I, Sazci A, Ergul E, et al. Association of the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in the 5,10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene in patients with migraine risk. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2003;111:84-90.
60. Kowa H, Yasui K, Takeshima T, et al. The homozygous C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene is a genetic risk factor for migraine. Am J Med Genet. 2000;96: 762-764.
61. Oterino A, Valle N, Bravo Y, et al. MTHFR T677 homozygosis influences the presence of aura in migraineurs. Cephalalgia. 2004;24:491-494.
62. Colson NJ, Lea RA, Quinlan S, et al. The estrogen receptor 1 G594A polymorphism is associated with migraine susceptibility in two independent case/control groups. Neurogenetics. 2004;5:129-133.
63. Gervil M, Ulrich V, Kaprio J, et al. The relative role of genetic and environmental factors inmigraine without aura. Neurology. 1999;53:995-999.
64. Puri V, Cui L, Liverman CS, et al. Ovarian steroids regulate neuropeptides in the trigeminal ganglion. Neuropeptides. 2005;39:409-417.
65. Splett CL, Scheffen JR, Desotelle JA, et al. Galanin enhancement of gonadotropin releasing hormone stimulated luteinizing hormone secretion in female rats is estrogen dependent. Endocrinology. 2003;144:484-490.
66. Couturier EG, Bomhof MA, Neven AK, et al. Menstrual migraine in a representative Dutch population sample: prevalence, disability and treatment. Cephalalgia. 2003;23:302-308.
67. Stewart WF, Lipton RB, Chee E, et al. Menstrual cycle and headache in a population sample of migraineurs. Neurology. 2000;55:1517-1523.
68. Granella F, Sances G, Allaiss G, et al. Characteristics of menstrual and nonmenstrual attacks in women with menstrually related migraine referred to headache centres. Cephalalgia. 2004;24:707-716.
69. Martin VT, Wernke S, Mandell K, et al. Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and their association with migraine headache. Headache. 2006;46:125-137.
70. Epstein MT, Hockaday JM, Hockaday TD. Migraine and reproductive hormones throughout the menstrual cycle. Lancet. 1975;1:543-548.
71. Swartz KL, Pratt LA, Armenian HK, et al. Mental disorders and the incidence of migraine headaches in a community sample: results from the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment area follow-up study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000;57: 945-950.
72. Lance JW, Anthony M. Some clinical aspects of migraine. A prospective survey of 500 patients. Arch Neurol. 1966; 15:356-361.
73. Loder E. Migraine in pregnancy. Semin Neurol. 2007;27: 425-433.
74. Sances G, Granella F, Nappi RE, et al. Course of migraine during pregnancy and postpartum: a prospective study. Cephalalgia. 2003;23:197-205.
75. Wall VR. Breastfeeding and migraine headaches. J Hum Lact. 1992;8:209-212.
76. Neri I, Granella F, Nappi R, et al. Characteristics of headache at menopause: a clinico-epidemiologic study. Maturitas. 1993;17:31-37.
77. Misakian AL, Langer RD, Bensenor IM, et al. Postmenopausal hormone therapy and migraine headache. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2003;12:1027-1036.
78. Altman J. Gonadal hormones humour the brain. Neuroendocrinology. 2004;79:287-295.
79. Nelson LR, Bulun SE. Estrogen production and action. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001;45(suppl 3):S116YS124.
80. Luo JJ, Dun NJ. New research advances in obesity: relevant to neurologic disorders. Brain Disord Ther. 2012;1:e103.
81. Brandes JL. The influence of estrogen on migraine: a systematic review. JAMA. 2006;295:1824-1830.
82. Bigal ME, Tsang A, Loder E, et al. Body mass index and episodic headaches: a population-based study. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:1964-1970.
83. Bigal ME, Liberman JN, Lipton RB. Obesity and migraine: a population study. Neurology. 2006;66:545-550.
84. Bigal ME, Lipton RB. Obesity is a risk factor for transformed migraine but not chronic tension-type headache. Neurology. 2006;67:252-257.
85. Bond DS, Vithiananthan S, Nash JM, et al. Improvement of migraine headaches in severely obese patients after bariatric surgery. Neurology. 2011;76:1135-1138.
86. Gunay Y, Jamal M, Capper A, et al. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass achieves substantial resolution of migraine headache in the severely obese: 9-year experience in 81 patients [published online ahead of print]. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012.
87. Ramadan NM. Current trends in migraine prophylaxis. Headache. 2007;47(suppl 1):S52YS57.
88. Dun EC, Luo JJ. Can migraines be effectively managed with combined oral contraceptives? J Neurol Neurophysiol. 2012;3:e103Ye104.
89. Pfaffenrath V. Efficacy and safety of percutaneous estradiol vs. placebo in menstrual migraine. Cephalalgia. 1993; 13:244.
90. Smits MG, van der Meer YG, Pfeil JP, et al. Perimenstrual migraine: effect of Estraderm TTS and the value of contingent negative variation and exteroceptive temporalis muscle suppression test. Headache. 1994;34:103-106.
91. Johannes CB, Linet MS, Stewart WF, et al. Relationship of headache to phase of the menstrual cycle among young women: a daily diary study. Neurology. 1995;45:1076-1082.
92. World Health Organization. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2004.
93. Bousser MG, Conrad J, Kittner S, et al. Recommendations on the risk of ischaemic stroke associated with use of combined oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy in women with migraine. The International Headache Society Task Force on Combined Oral Contraceptives & Hormone Replacement Therapy. Cephalalgia. 2000;20:155-156.
94. MacGregor EA, Guillebaud J. Combined oral contraceptives, migraine and ischaemic stroke. Clinical and Scientific Committee of the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care and the Family Planning Association. Br J Fam Plann. 1998;24:55-60.
95. Calhoun A. Combined hormonal contraceptives: is it time to reassess their role in migraine? Headache. 2012;52 648-660.
96. Calhoun AH. Current topics and controversies in menstrual migraine. Headache. 2012;52(suppl 1):8-11.
97. Samuelsson B, Wennmalm A. Increased nerve stimulation induced release of noradrenaline from the rabbit heart after inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Acta Physiol Scand. 1971;83: 163-168.
98. Stjarne L. Prostaglandin-versus alpha-adrenoceptorYmediated control of sympathetic neurotransmitter secretion in guinea-pig isolated vas deferens. Eur J Pharmacol. 1973;22:233-238.
99. Buzzi MG, Sakas DE, Moskowitz MA. Indomethacin and acetylsalicylic acid block neurogenic plasma protein extravasation in rat dura mater. Eur J Pharmacol. 1989;165:251-258.
100. Solbach MP, Waymer RS. Treatment of menstruationassociated migraine headache with subcutaneous sumatriptan. Obstet Gynecol. 1993;82:769-772.
101. Silberstein SD, Massiou H, Le Jeunne C, et al. Rizatriptan in the treatment of menstrual migraine. Obstet Gynecol. 2000; 96:237-242.
102. Mannix LK, Loder E, Nett R, et al. Rizatriptan for the acute treatment of ICHD-II proposed menstrual migraine: two prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies. Cephalalgia. 2007;27:414-421.
103. Facchinetti F, Bonellie G, Kangasniemi P, et al. The efficacy and safety of subcutaneous sumatriptan in the acute treatment of menstrual migraine. The Sumatriptan Menstrual Migraine Study Group. Obstet Gynecol. 1995;86:911-916.
104. Loder E, Silberstein SD, Abu-Shakra S, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of oral zolmitriptan in menstrually associated migraine: a randomized, prospective, parallel-group, doubleblind, placebo-controlled study. Headache. 2004;44:120-130.
105. Loder E. Menstrual migraine: timing is everything. Neurology. 2004;63:202-203.
106. Ferrari MD, Goadsby PJ, Roon KI, et al. Triptans (serotonin, 5-HT1B/1D agonists) in migraine: detailed results and methods of a meta-analysis of 53 trials. Cephalalgia. 2002;22: 633-658.
107. D'Alessandro R, Gamberini G, Lozito A, et al. Menstrual migraine: intermittent prophylaxis with a timed-release pharmacological formulation of dihydroergotamine. Cephalalgia. 1983;3(suppl 1):156-158.
108. Silberstein SD, Schulman EA, Hopkins MM. Repetitive intravenous DHE in the treatment of refractory headache. Headache. 1990;30:334-339.
109. Saito K, Markowitz S, Moskowitz MA. Ergot alkaloids block neurogenic extravasation in dura mater: proposed action in vascular headaches. Ann Neurol. 1988;24:732-737.
110. Sances G, Martignoni E, Fioroni L, et al. Naproxen sodium in menstrual migraine prophylaxis: a double-blind placebo controlled study. Headache. 1990;30:705-709.
111. Newman LC, Lipton RB, Lay CL, et al. A pilot study of oral sumatriptan as intermittent prophylaxis of menstruationrelated migraine. Neurology. 1998;51:307-309.
112. Newman L, Mannix LK, Landy S, et al. Naratriptan as shortterm prophylaxis of menstrually associated migraine: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Headache. 2001;41:248-256.
113. Moschiano F, Allais G, Grazzi L, et al. Naratriptan in the shortterm prophylaxis of pure menstrual migraine. Neurol Sci. 2005;26(suppl 2):s162Ys166.
114. Silberstein SD, Elkind AH, Schreiber C, et al. A randomized trial of frovatriptan for the intermittent prevention of menstrual migraine. Neurology. 2004;63:261-269.
115. Novack V, Fuchs L, Lantsberg L, et al. Changes in headache frequency in premenopausal obese women with migraine after bariatric surgery: a case series. Cephalalgia. 2011;31: 1336-1342.
116. Kanaya AM, Lindquist K, Harris TB, et al. Total and regional adiposity and cognitive change in older adults: the Health, Aging and Body Composition (ABC) study. Arch Neurol. 2009;66:329-335.