Abstract
Introduction: In the general population 4% have never experienced a headache. Freedom from headache could be due to distinctive protective mechanisms or a lack of environmental risk factors for headache. Isosorbide-5-mononitrate is an organic nitrate which in the body is metabolised to nitric oxide. The nitric oxide pathway plays a crucial role in the primary headaches. We hypothesized that people who are free from headache are protected by distinctive mechanisms in the nitric oxide pathway. Methods: We performed an observer blinded case-control study using nitric oxide to provoke a headache. 32 headache free male participants and 26 randomly selected male controls received 60 mg Isosorbide-5-mononitrate orally on the study day. Participants fill out a headache diary with headache intensity and characteristics until 12 hours after administration of Isosorbide-5-mononitrate. Primary endpoint were areas under the curve of headache intensity score. Results: All 58 participants completed the study. There was no significant difference in headache incidence, headache intensity score or migraine-like attack between headache free participants and controls. Conclusion: We show that men who have never experienced a headache develop a headache when provoked with Isosorbide-5-mononitrate. This indicates that freedom from headache in men is not related to the nitric oxide pathway which is involved in the primary headache disorders.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Cephalalgia |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 7 |
Pages (from-to) | 598-607 |
ISSN | 0333-1024 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© International Headache Society 2021.
Keywords
- isosorbide-5-mononitrate
- migraine
- never had headache
- pathway
- protective mechanisms
- Provocation study