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A single-fibre electromyography study of neuromuscular transmission in patients with cluster headache
Affiliations- 1 Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Mathematics and Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract
Mutations of CACNA1A, which encodes a neuronal P/Q Ca2+ channel, are present in patients with familial hemiplegic migraine, and possibly in other types of migraine as well. This calcium channel is also involved in neuromuscular transmission. In our previous study we confirmed that the single-fibre electromyography (SFEMG) method can demonstrate a neuromuscular transmission deficit in migraine with aura. The aim of our present study was to estimate the neurotransmitter dysfunction in cluster headache and to compare the results between patients with cluster headache and those with migraine with aura.
Material and methodsWe selected 6 patients with cluster headache and 6 patients with migraine with typical aura. SFEMG of the voluntarily activated extensor digitorum communis muscle was performed.
ResultsThe SFEMG results were in the normal range in the cluster headache group and in the healthy controls. Slight neuromuscular transmission disturbances were present in patients with migraine with aura.
ConclusionsThe abnormal neuromuscular transmission detectable by SFEMG may reflect a genetically determined dysfunction of the P/Q Ca2+ channels in a group of migraineurs with aura. Conversely, absence of neuromuscular abnormalities in cluster headache patients could be explained by different aetiology not resulting in channelopathy. Single-fibre electromyography could be a helpful tool in clinically questionable cases in differentiating between cluster headache and migraine with aura.
Abstract
Mutations of CACNA1A, which encodes a neuronal P/Q Ca2+ channel, are present in patients with familial hemiplegic migraine, and possibly in other types of migraine as well. This calcium channel is also involved in neuromuscular transmission. In our previous study we confirmed that the single-fibre electromyography (SFEMG) method can demonstrate a neuromuscular transmission deficit in migraine with aura. The aim of our present study was to estimate the neurotransmitter dysfunction in cluster headache and to compare the results between patients with cluster headache and those with migraine with aura.
Material and methodsWe selected 6 patients with cluster headache and 6 patients with migraine with typical aura. SFEMG of the voluntarily activated extensor digitorum communis muscle was performed.
ResultsThe SFEMG results were in the normal range in the cluster headache group and in the healthy controls. Slight neuromuscular transmission disturbances were present in patients with migraine with aura.
ConclusionsThe abnormal neuromuscular transmission detectable by SFEMG may reflect a genetically determined dysfunction of the P/Q Ca2+ channels in a group of migraineurs with aura. Conversely, absence of neuromuscular abnormalities in cluster headache patients could be explained by different aetiology not resulting in channelopathy. Single-fibre electromyography could be a helpful tool in clinically questionable cases in differentiating between cluster headache and migraine with aura.
Keywords
cluster headache, migraine with aura, P/Q Ca2+ channels, single-fibre electromyography, neuromuscular transmission
About this articleTitle
A single-fibre electromyography study of neuromuscular transmission in patients with cluster headache
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
140-144
Page views
325
Article views/downloads
548
DOI
10.5114/ninp.2012.28256
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2012;46(2):140-144.
Keywords
cluster headache
migraine with aura
P/Q Ca2+ channels
single-fibre electromyography
neuromuscular transmission
Authors
Izabela Domitrz
Małgorzata Gaweł
Wojciech Domitrz
Anna Kostera-Pruszczyk
Hubert Kwieciński
