Abstract

Background
Background: Trigeminovascular system is widely accepted hypothesis as an explanation for migraine pathogenesis. And the trigeminal nucleus in this system is believed to do a pivotal role. Recovery characteristics of R2 response to paired stimulations in blink reflex study is a practical and useful investigating tool for afferent trigeminal pathway as well as efferent facial nerve. Methods: We studied whether any difference in R2 recovery after paired stimulations is present between 9 patients of migraine without aura(MOA) and 9 migraine with aura(MWA) patients. Results: There was a difference in R2 recovery characteristics to paired stimulation between migraine patients and control group at interstimulus interval(ISI) of 0.3 sec. However, there was no difference between patients of MOA and MWA at each ISI. Conclusion: Although this study shows the possibility that at least the head pain mechanism in both MOA and MWA shares a common mechanism, more refined future study for larger number of cases is needed to confirm. Korean Journal of Headache 3(2):105-109, 2002