Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2023 | Migraine | Research
Serum alpha-CGRP levels are increased in COVID-19 patients with headache indicating an activation of the trigeminal system
Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2023
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Background
Headache is among the most frequent symptoms of acute COVID-19 infection. Its mechanisms remain obscure, but due to its migraine-like characteristics, the activation of the trigeminal system could account for its underlying pathophysiology.
Methods
Our aim was to compare the serum levels of CGRP, as a theoretical marker of trigemino-vascular activation, in 25 COVID-19 inpatients with lung involvement experiencing headache, against 15 COVID-19 inpatients without headache and with those of 25 matched healthy controls with no headache history.
Results
Morning serum alpha-CGRP levels, as measured by ELISA (Abbexa, UK), were increased in COVID-19 patients with headache (55.2±34.3 pg/mL) vs. controls (33.9±14.0 pg/mL) (p < 0.01). Alpha-CGRP levels in COVID-19 patients without headache were also significantly increased (43.3 ± 12.8 pg/mL; p = 0.05) versus healthy controls, but were numerically lower (-28.2%; p = 0.36) as compared to COVID-19 patients with headache.
Conclusion
CGRP levels are increased in COVID-19 patients experiencing headache in the acute phase of this disease, which could explain why headache frequently occurs in COVID-19 and strongly supports a role for trigeminal activation in the pathophysiology of headache in this viral infection.