This thesis aimed to explore biochemical processes related to migraine outside (interictal) and during upcoming attacks. Chapter 2 describes the biochemical profiling of plasma samples from... Show moreThis thesis aimed to explore biochemical processes related to migraine outside (interictal) and during upcoming attacks. Chapter 2 describes the biochemical profiling of plasma samples from interictal migraine patients and healthy controls from eight Dutch cohorts with a proton nuclear magnetic resonance based metabolomics platform. In Chapter 3 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma samples from interictal migraine with and without aura patients and healthy volunteers, were profiled using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) platform for amine measurements, as multiple amines have been implicated in migraine pathophysiology. Alcoholic beverages are frequently reported migraine triggers. Chapter 4 assessed the potential of various alcohol beverages as a migraine attack trigger using a questionnaire study in a large cohort of migraine patients. In Chapter 5, the frequently used pharmacological migraine trigger glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) was studied in migraine patients and healthy controls to investigate whether previously reported premonitory symptoms are indeed specific to migraine patients. In Chapter 6 glutamate, glutamine, and GABA were assed in the visual cortex of migraine patients before and over the course of a GTN-provoked attack to detect possible involvement of the glutamatergic system in the onset of attacks using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Show less
The research in this thesis is divided into two parts. Part I consists of biochemical studies in migraine, a paroxysmal brain disorder where visual disturbances may form a part of the migraine... Show moreThe research in this thesis is divided into two parts. Part I consists of biochemical studies in migraine, a paroxysmal brain disorder where visual disturbances may form a part of the migraine attack. The main objective was quantification of amine neurotransmitters and other amine molecules in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of migraine patients, and compare these concentrations with those from healthy controls. Part II describes the clinical relation between migraine and visual snow, a brain disorder with continuous visual disturbances and that is possibly associated with migraine. Since not much is known about this relationship this thesis presents observational studies on the incidence of comorbid migraine in visual snow. Show less