Determination of sex hormones levels in patients with migraine

Relevance. Primary headaches are currently one of the most common neurological diseases, and the role of sex hormones in their occurrence has been proven.

The purpose of the study is to analyze the levels of sex hormones (estradiol and testosterone) in the blood of patients with various clinical forms of migraine during an attack and outside of an attack.

Materials and methods. The study included 60 patients aged 18–45 years with migraine, who formed the main group. Each patient in the main group was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third Revision (ICHD3). The control group consisted of 15 practically healthy individuals, comparable in age with the main group, who did not suffer from migraine. The study was conducted inpatient and outpatient in a multidisciplinary clinic of the Center for Advanced Professional Development of Medical Workers, the clinical base of the Department of Neurology and Medical Psychology of the Tashkent Medical Academy.

Results. The study examined the concentration of sex hormones – testosterone and estradiol – in the blood serum of female and male patients with migraine with and without aura during an attack and outside of an attack, and compared the obtained values with the results of studies in the control group. The level of estradiol is higher in women and men with migraine with aura, which affects the duration and intensity of attacks. In women with migraine without aura, the level of estradiol in the blood decreases in the 1st phase of the menstrual cycle, and its normal value in the 2nd phase is associated with the duration of the headache attack. No statistically significant change in testosterone levels was noted.

Conclusions. Our data can be used for considering the possibility of hormonal therapy as a preventive measure against headache attacks in patients with various clinical forms of migraine.

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