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Electromyographical ischemic test, clinical symptoms related to neuromuscular hyperexcitability, and intra- and extracellular Mg++ levels in headache patients
The Journal of Headache and Pain volume 4, pages 24–30 (2003)
Abstract
We observed the occurrence of neuromuscular hyperexcitability, assessed with electromyographic ischemic tests, in headache patients in relation to Mg++ levels in serum, red blood cells and mononuclear cells. Clinical symptoms most significantly associated with neuromuscolar hyperexcitability and magnesium derangements were also investigated. A total of 36 patients with migraine without aura (MwoA),18 patients with episodic tension-type headache (ETTH) and 22 patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) were examined during interictal periods. The electromyographic (EMG) ischemic test was positive in 91.7% of MwoA patients, in 27.7% of ETTH and in 13.6% of CTTH patients. In patients with MwoA, the Mg++ levels in red blood cells were significantly less than those in the other two groups of patients with tension-type headache (ANOVA, p<0.00l). Positive EMG ischemic tests were significantly associated with decreased erythrocyte Mg++ levels in MwoA patients (χ2, p<0.01). The clinical symptoms in patients with MwoA most frequently suggest the presence of neuromuscular hyperexcitability and are more strictly associated with reduced red blood cell Mg++ levels. They include fasciculations (91.7%), asthenia (91.7%), blepharospasm (75.8%) and paresthesiae (47.2%). Anxiety and depression most often occurred in tension-type headache patients, but were not related to modifications in intra- and extracellular Mg++ levels.
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Received: 14 January 2002, Accepted in revised form: 22 July 2002
Correspondence to G. Mazzotta
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Mazzotta, G., Sarchielli, P., Alberti, A. et al. Electromyographical ischemic test, clinical symptoms related to neuromuscular hyperexcitability, and intra- and extracellular Mg++ levels in headache patients. J Headache Pain 4, 24–30 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s101940300024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s101940300024