Skip to main content

Helicobacter pylori infection as an environmental risk factor for migraine without aura

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has recently been associated with various extraintestinal pathologies and migraine. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of the H. pylori infection with the pathogenesis of migraine without aura, especially in cases not affected by endogenous risk factors, like hereditary pattern or hormonal fluctuations.

A total of 49 outpatients (37 females and 12 males; age range: 19-47 years; mean age: 31,±14 years) affected by migraine without aura was evaluated. We divided them in 2 subgroups: a) with positive familial history, and/or with menstrual type of migraine b) with negative familial history and with menstrual unrelated type of migraine. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by the 13 C- urea breath test (INFAI - test).

Control subjects consisted of 51 patients without any primary headache history (38 females; mean age of 32,±14,4 years; range 21-49 years), who underwent upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy for investigation of anaemia or non ulcer dyspepsia. H. pylori detection was based on the histologic analysis of gastric mucosa biopsy.

The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly higher in the migraineurs without aura compared to controls (p=0.016).

The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly high in the mixed and in the female group of our patients without other predisposing factors for migraine without aura (81 and 87% respectively), while in the same groups with predisposing factors (menstruation and/or family history) the prevalence was only 36 and 37% respectively (p=0,001 for the first group and p=0,002 for the second group). Our results seem to highlight the role of H. pylori infection as a probable independent environmental risk factor for migraine without aura, especially in patients that are not genetically or hormonally susceptible to migraine.

References

  1. Chabriat H, Danchot J, Michel P et al (1997) Precipitating factors in migraineurs: a reappraisal in a national control-matched survey. Cephalalgia 17:318–319

    Google Scholar 

  2. Covelli V, Pellegrino NM, Jirillo E (2003) A point of view: The need to identify an antigen in psyconeuroimmunological disorders. Curr Pharm Des 9[suppl 24]:1951–1955, 10.2174/1381612033454234, 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXms1Wltbw%3D, 12871180

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Tunca A, Turkay C, Tekin O et al (2004) Is Helicobacter pylori infection a risk factor for migraine? A control study. Acta Neurol Belg 104[suppl 4]:161–164, 15742606

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gasbarrini A, De Luca A, Fiore G et al (1998) Primary headache and Helicobacter pylori. Int J Angiol 7:310–312, 10.1007/s005479900121, 9716793

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gasbarrini A, De Luca A, Fiore G et al (1998) Beneficial effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on migraine. Hepato-Gastroenterology 45:765–770, 1:STN:280:DyaK1czkvVOmtw%3D%3D, 9684130

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gabrielli M, Fiore G, Candelli M et al (2002) Re: “Chronic Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Migraine: A Case-Control Study”(Pinessi L, Savi L, Pellicano R, et al. Headache. 2000;40:836–839). Headache 42[suppl 3]:235–236

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ciancarelli I, Di Massimo C, Tozzi - Ciancarelli MG et al (2002) Helicobacter pylori infection and migraine. Cephalalgia 22[Suppl 3]:222–225 ,10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00354.x, 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38zht1eltQ%3D%3D, 12047462

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Pinessi L, Savi L, Pellicano R et al (2000) Chronic helicobacter pylori infection and migraine: A case-control study. Headache 40: 836–839, 10.1046/j.1526-4610.2000.00151.x, 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7jvFaksA%3D%3D, 11135029

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mavromichalis I (2003) The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in migraine. Cephalalgia 23:240, 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2003.04991.x 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7kslShsw%3D%3D,12662197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Maseri A, Biasucci LM, Liuzzo G (1996) Inflammation in ischaemic heart disease Br Med J 312:1061–1065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gasbarrini A, Serrichio M, Tondi P et al (1996) Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with Raynaud phenomenon. Lancet 348:966–967, 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)65386-X, 1:STN:280:DyaK2s%2FgtVOrtA%3D%3D, 8843842

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kountouras J, Tsolaki M, Gavalas E et al (2006) Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and Alzheimer disease. Neurology 28;66:938–940, 10.1212/01.wnl.0000203644.68059.5f

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kountouras J, Tsolaki M, Boziki M et al (2007) Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and mild cognitive impairment Eur J Neurol 14:976–982, 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01827.x, 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2srgtVKqtg%3D%3D, 17718688

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Russell MB (2007) Genetics in primary headaches. J Headache and Pain 8:190–195, 10.1007/s10194-007-0389-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Russell MB, Olesen J (1995) Increased familial risk and evidence of genetic factor in migraine. Br Med J 26;311:541–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Headache Classification Committee of International Headache Society (2004) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edn. Cephalalgia 24[Suppl 1]:1–160

    Google Scholar 

  17. MacGregor EA (1996) “Menstrual”migraine; towards a definition Cephalalgia 16:11–21, 10.1046/j.1468-2982.1996.1601011.x, 1:STN:280:DyaK28vitlSqsQ%3D%3D, 8825694

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Brandes JL (2006) The influence of estrogen on migraine: a systematic review. JAMA 19; 295:1824–1830, 10.1001/jama.295.15.1824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gasbarrini A, Gabrielli M, Fiore G et al (2000) Association between Helicobacter pylori cytotoxic type I CagA-positive strains and migraine with aura. Cephalalgia 20:561–565, 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2000.00077.x, 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7ktFGnsQ%3D%3D, 11075839

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Tunca A, Ardicoglu Y, Kargili A, Adam B (2007) Migraine, Helicobacter pylori, and oxidative stress. Helicobacter 12:59–62, 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2007.00470.x, 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXislWmu70%3D, 17241302

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Konstantina G. Yiannopoulou.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0 ), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yiannopoulou, K.G., Efthymiou, A., Karydakis, K. et al. Helicobacter pylori infection as an environmental risk factor for migraine without aura. J Headache Pain 8, 329–333 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-007-0422-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-007-0422-7

Keywords