[Blood interleukin-6 level in children with idiopathic headaches].

AIM: Neurogenic inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis of migraine. IL-6 plays an important role as a proinflammatory cytokine. The aim of this research was to investigate IL-6 level changes in children with migraine and episodic tension-type headache (ETTH) at baseline and during a headache attack, and also factors which may influence these changes (aura, sex, weight, leukocyte and thrombocyte count).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In 30 children with migraine, 31 with ETTH and 28 controls without headaches, an IL-6 level was established in plasma using Biosource kit in the first, third and sixth hour of headache, and 6 hours after its termination. Two days after pain termination, the headache-free measurements were analyzed, and under the same conditions in controls. A statistical assessment was performed.

RESULTS

In 12/30 children with migraine there was an increase in the IL-6 level in the first hour of the attack. There were no differences between migraine with and without aura, migraine and ETTH, and between headaches at baseline and controls. There was an increase in the IL-6 level in children with prolonged primary headaches (migraine and ETTH) in the third and sixth hour of the attack. No correlation between IL-6 and sex, count of leukocytes and thrombocytes was established.

CONCLUSION

The increase in the IL-6 level in several children with migraine in the first hour of the attack may suggest that neurogenic inflammation contributes to the migraine pathogenesis. IL-6 is not involved in the pathogenesis of ETTH. The increase in the IL-6 level in children with prolonged headache may reflect a stress reaction.