Adiponectin May Be New Drug Target For Migraineurs

PRLog (Press Release) – May 16, 2008 – Migraine is a common and often disabling disorder which occurs in approximately 12 percent  of American adults and three times as many women as men. A subgroup of this population of episodic migraineurs progresses to become chronic migraine.  It has been estimated that 4-5 percent  of the general population sufferers from chronic daily headache.

Several risk factors for chronic daily headache have been identified, including head and neck injury, arthritis, sleep disorders, diabetes and obesity.  And although it is not clear if the first neurological event giving rise to migraine is generated from brainstem activation or cortical spreading depression, the pain of migraine is a result of neurogenic inflammation. Recent data has shown that adipose tissue is not just a  storage depot for fat, and it is an active participant in multiple physiological and pathological processes associated with inflammation and immunity.  Adipose tissue has been shown to secrete a variety of complement factors, growth factors, cytokines and adipocytokines including adiponectin.

In a study recently published in Neurology 2008 May 13:70(20):1905-11 titled Oligomerization state-dependent elevations of adiponectin in chronic daily headache, Peterlin BL et all evaluated serum adiponectin levels in female episodic migraineurs and chronic daily headache sufferers.

It was found that visceral obesity as estimated by a weight to hip ratio was significantly associated with chronic daily headache. In addition, waist to hip ratio was significantly and inversely related  to adiponectin, that is, serum adiponectin levels were elevated in female chronic daily headache sufferers.

Adiponectin is increased in chronic daily headache sufferers and may be a new headache drug target for migraineurs.