Chronic Migraine and Elevated CRP Levels

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a known pro-inflammation biomarker and important predictor of migraine headache. Many studies have detected higher levels of CRP in patients suffering from migraine headache than normal subjects. Etiopathology has been related to ongoing sterile inflammation of intra and extra cerebral blood vessels and the subsequent release of proinflammatory neuropeptides from perivascular nerve endings. The present study was performed on 50 females suffering from chronic migraine (CM) and their CRP levels were compared with normal persons. We intended to find the correlation between CM and CRP levels as such patients are also predisposed to various other associated cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events like stroke and ischemic heart diseases. Therefore, early detection of CRP levels in migraine sufferer may be helpful in treatment of migraine headache and in prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Mean value of C-reactive protein estimation was significantly higher (< 0.001) in patients group as compared to normal controls. On comparing results of sub group A, (migraine with aura) and sub group B (migraine without aura) with control group, differences were significant. On other hand, result of comparison between groups A with B was not significant. Finally, we could conclude that the present study supports that CRP an inflammatory marker was significantly higher in migraineurs in comparison with normal subjects. By these findings, the role of sterile inflammation could explain the cause of onset and progression of migraine headache.