Asthma Control Status Is Associated with Migraine Symptoms in Patients Experiencing Attacks of Both Diseases.

INTRODUCTION

Numerous reports have suggested a relationship between asthma and migraine. We have encountered patients who presented with migraine attacks in association with asthma attacks.

METHODS

In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the relationship between the condition of asthma (controlled or not) and the intensity of migraine attacks in 35 patients with asthma and migraine. We investigated the degree of changes in symptoms (change in fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO], change in peak expiratory flow [PEF], and change in Asthma Control Test [ACT]) during exacerbation of asthma and observed the intensity of the headache (change in visual analog scale [∆VAS]). Next, we investigated the correlation between ∆VAS and biomarkers of bronchial asthma.

RESULTS

When migraine was aggravated, indexes of asthmatic symptoms (ACT, PEF, and FeNO) were also exacerbated. We found a linkage between insufficiently controlled asthma and aggravation of migraine. Moreover, the three indexes of asthma (ACT, PEF, and FeNO) reviewed in this study showed a close correlation. There was a positive correlation between the degree of exacerbation of migraine symptoms and the degree of change in the three indexes. In 14 of 35 patients, administration of a short-acting β2 agonist for asthma attacks indirectly relieved headache.

CONCLUSIONS

here is a close correlation between the condition of asthma attacks and the intensity of migraine attacks.