Changes in the blink reflex during migraine with aura and the inter-attack period
Mehlika Panpalli Ates1, Sevgi Ferik2, Leyla Das Pektezel3, Hayat Guven1, Selim Selcuk Comoğlu1
1 Department of Neurology, University of Health Sciences, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey 2 Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey 3 Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Correspondence Address:
Mehlika Panpalli Ates Department of Neurology, University of Health Sciences, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ziraat Mah. Sehit Omer Halisdemir Street No: 20, F Block, 5. Floor, Neurology Clinic, Diskapi, Ankara 06110 Turkey
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/nsn.nsn_176_20
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Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the possible excitability changes in the trigeminovascular system based on blink reflex (BR) in patients experiencing migraine and to compare migraine aura attacks and attack-free period. Materials and Methods: A total of 56 patients diagnosed with migraine headache with aura and 20 healthy individuals without migraine were evaluated electrophysiologically using the BR test. The BR test was repeated twice in patients with migraines during attacks with aura and attack-free period. Results: During the migraine attack with aura, R1 latencies were shorter, and R2 latencies were longer than in the interictal period. Likewise, R1 latencies were shorter, and R2 latencies were longer, in the interictal period compared to normal values obtained in the control group. Conclusion: The detected BR abnormalities have been thought to be able to reflect migraine-related dysfunction in the brainstem and trigeminovascular connections. Significance: It has been concluded that the detected BR abnormalities might reflect migraine-related dysfunction in the brainstem and trigeminovascular connections, indicating increased neuronal excitability in migraine.
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