Erasmus MC : Project number 9

Migraine is a paroxysmal neurovascular disorder, which is 2-3 time more prevalent in women than in men.  Currently available drugs for the acute treatment of migraine all constrict cranial blood vessels, which most likely mediate their therapeutic action.  However, since these drugs may also constrict peripheral blood vessels, including the coronary artery, there is a concern about cardiac side effects and these drugs are thus contraindicated in patients with cardiovascular disease.  We are investigating the neurovascular properties of prospective antimigraine drugs that may act via a primary neuronal mechanism.  This could result in a reduced coronary side-effect potential of these prospective drugs.  Further, since migraine occurs more often in women and depends on hormonal fluctuations such as occurring around the menstruation, we investigate the effects of (changing levels of) female sex hormones on mechanisms implied in the pathophysiology of migraine.