Assessment of the cortical processing of pain in patients with migraine using middle latency somatosensory evoked potentials: a case-control study.

Abstract

Objectives: Strong evidence suggested the presence of abnormal cortical processing of pain in patients with migraine during and in between the attacks. The aim of this work was to assess the possible alterations in cortical excitability in patients with migraine in between the attacks using middle latency somatosensory evoked potential. The second objective was to study the relationship between cortical excitability in patients with migraine, and severity, frequency, and duration of migraine headache attacks.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 40 migraine patients and 40 age and sex matched healthy controls. Severity of migraine was assessed using Migraine Severity Scale (MIGSEV), Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The peak latencies and amplitudes of the middle latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were measured for patients and controls.

Result: There was a statistically significant difference between Migraine patients and controls regarding middle latency SSEPs variables. There was no statistically significant correlation between middle latency SSEPs variables in patients with migraine and either age, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, monthly migraine days, duration of migraine headache attacks, MIGSEV, HIT-6, or VAS.

Discussion: Patients with migraine have a significantly higher cortical excitability in comparison to controls. No significant relationship between cortical excitability in patients with migraine and either severity, frequency, or duration of migraine headache attacks.