The cold pressor test in interictal migraine patients - different parasympathetic pupillary response indicates dysbalance of the cranial autonomic nervous system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Data on autonomic nervous system (ANS) activations in migraine patients are quite controversial, with previous studies reporting over- and underactivation of the sympathetic as well as parasympathetic nervous system. In the present study, we explicitly aimed to assess the cranial ANS in migraine patients compared to healthy controls by applying the cold pressor test to a cohort of migraine patients in the interictal phase and measuring the pupillary response.

Methods

In this prospective observational study, a strong sympathetic stimulus was applied to 20 patients with episodic migraine in the interictal phase and 20 matched controls without migraine, whereby each participant dipped the left hand into ice-cold (4 °C) water for a maximum of 5 min (cold pressor test)

SUBMITTER: Eren OE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5901875 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature