Increased Affinity of Platelet Dopamine-Binding to D₂-Receptors in Migraineurs: Implications of the Dopaminergic System in Migraine

Abstract

Evaluation of: Shukla R, Kanna VK, Vinod P, Sankhwar ML, Yadav RS: Platelet dopamine: D₂-receptor binding in patients with migraine. Cephalalgia DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01760.X (2009) (Epub ahead of print). This study aimed to measure the level of platelet dopamine binding to the dopamine D₂ receptor in migraineurs, using ³H-spiperone as a radioligand, and compared samples with control subjects. Patients adhering to the International Headache Society classification of migraine were shown to have significantly reduced dissociation constant (Kd: 1.71 ± 0.19 nM) for D₂-receptor binding compared with controls. There was no relationship between Kd and other specific clinical features, such as migraine type, frequency and vomiting. The findings point to a relationship between dopamine binding and migraine, however further studies with larger patient groups are necessary to evaluate the exact role of dopamine and specific clinical features.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

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