Clinical application of trigemino-cervical reflex in migraine without aura and chronic tension-type headache / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the clinical application of trigemino-cervical reflex(TCR)in migraine without aura(MWOA)and chronic tension-type headache(CTTH).Methods The TCR was recorded using surface electromyographic recordings bilaterally from the sternocleidomastoid muscle after stimulation of infraorbital branch of the trigeminal nerve.The reflex was investigated in 25 patients with unilateral MWOA,25 patients with CTTH and 36 healthy subjects.The patients were outpatients who visited Fujian provincial institution hospitals from January 2009 to February 2010.Results Compared with the healthy subjects,the bilateral peak latency of P19/N31(PLP19 and PLN31)was significantly shortened in the subjects with MWOA(left and fight side were(19.49 ± 1.95)ms and(19.81 ± 1.79)ms respectively)or CTTH(left:(19.56 ±2.02)ms,and right:(19.16 ± 1.67)ms),t values were between 2.027 and 3.654,all P ＜ 0.05.The values of PLP19 and PLN31 between the patients with MWOA and with CTTH were not significantly different.Conclusions The peak latency of P19/N31 was shortened in the subjects with MWOA or CTTH,suggesting that the trigeminal and brainstem may participate in the pathophysiology of MWOA and CTTH.There was no significant difference in PLP19 and PLN31 between the patients with MWOA and CTTH,indicating similar abnormalities in the endogenous pain control mechanisms in both migraine and