Lack of effect of norepinephrine on cranial haemodynamics and headache in healthy volunteers

M Lindholt, K A Petersen, J F Tvedskov, Helle Klingenberg Iversen, J Olesen, P Tfelt-Hansen

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11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Stress is a provoking factor for both tension-type headache and migraine attacks. In the present single-blind study, we investigated if stress induced by norepinephrine (NE) could elicit delayed headache in 10 healthy subjects and recorded the cranial arterial responses. NE at a dose of 0.025 microg kg(-1) min(-1) or placebo was infused for 90 min and the headache was followed for 14 h. Blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (measured with transcranial Doppler) and diameters of the temporal artery and the radial artery (measured with ultrasound) were followed for 2 h. There were no changes in these arterial parameters after NE. In both treatment groups three subjects developed delayed headaches. Thus, stress by NE infusion did not result in delayed headache.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCephalalgia : an international journal of headache
Volume29
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)384-7
Number of pages4
ISSN0333-1024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2009

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Brain
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Epinephrine
  • Female
  • Headache
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Cerebral Artery
  • Radial Artery
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Temporal Arteries

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