Serotonin Metabolism in Chronic Tension-Type Headache

Serotonergic neurons play a major role in the regulation of pain and may therefore also be involved in the pathophysiology of tension-type headache. Platelets are important in the regulation of the free serotonin level in plasma and may be a model of serotonergic neurons. The aim of the present study was to investigate the peripheral serotonin (5HT) metabolism in patients with chronic tension-type headache. The 5HT levels in platelets and in plasma, the beta-thromboglobulin (ß-TG) levels in plasma, and the urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) were measured in 40 patients with chronic tension-type headache and in 40 healthy controls. The platelet uptake index was calculated as the ratio between platelet 5HT and plasma 5HT levels. There were, no significant differences in platelet 5HT, plasma 5HT ß-TG, or 5HIAA between patients and controls. The platelet uptake index was significantly lower in patients 243 (136-367) than in controls 352 (202-508), p=0.03. Our results indicate that the peripheral 5HT metabolism is largely normal in patients with chronic tension-type headache.

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Assessment of Pain Modulatory and Somatosensory Profiles in Chronic Tension-Type Headache Patients

Pain Medicine ◽

10.1093/pm/pnab084 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fernando G Exposto ◽

Karina H Bendixen ◽

Malin Ernberg ◽

Flemming W Bach ◽

Peter Svensson

Keyword(s):

Pain Catastrophizing ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Pain Modulation ◽

Normative Values ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Single Session ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Type Headache ◽

Underlying Pathophysiology

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to thoroughly phenotype a group of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) patients. Methods Fifteen CTTH patients diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders–3 and 15 healthy controls were included in this study. Furthermore, 70 healthy controls were included to establish normative values. Quantitative sensory testing (QST), including temporal summation of pain (TSP), conditioned pain modulation (CPM), and psychological and sleep variables, was assessed in a single session. TSP and CPM were then combined to build pain modulation profiles (PMP) for each individual. Results No difference was found between groups for PMP, TSP, and CPM. However, 10 CTTH patients showed a pronociceptive PMP, with 8 related to a deficient CPM and 2 to both a deficient CPM and increased TSP. Increased cold detection thresholds were the most common sensory disturbance found in CTTH patients. Significant differences were seen between groups for pain catastrophizing, depression, and sleep quality although not all patient’s scores were above the clinically meaningful cutoffs. Conclusions In summary, CTTH patients presented with different PMP. These PMP may be related to increased TSP, deficient CPM, alterations in thermal detection that may be related to autonomic dysregulation, or a combination of all three. Overall, this suggests that due to their heterogeneous pathophysiology, CTTH patients should be managed according to their underlying pathophysiology and not with a one-size-fits-all approach.

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Generalized Neck-Shoulder Hyperalgesia in Chronic Tension-Type Headache and Unilateral Migraine Assessed by Pressure Pain Sensitivity Topographical Maps of the Trapezius Muscle

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1111/j.1468-2982.2009.01901.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 77-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

C Fernández-de-las-Peñas ◽

P Madeleine ◽

AB Caminero ◽

ML Cuadrado ◽

L Arendt-Nielsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pain Sensitivity ◽

Trapezius Muscle ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Pressure Pain ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽

Pressure Algometer ◽

Type Headache ◽

Topographical Maps

Spatial changes in pressure pain hypersensitivity are present throughout the cephalic region (temporalis muscle) in both chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and unilateral migraine. The aim of this study was to assess pressure pain sensitivity topographical maps on the trapezius muscle in 20 patients with CTTH and 20 with unilateral migraine in comparison with 20 healthy controls in a blind design. For this purpose, a pressure algometer was used to assess pressure pain thresholds (PPT) over 11 points of the trapezius muscle: four points in the upper part of the muscle, two over the levator scapulae muscle, two in the middle part, and the remaining three points in the lower part of the muscle. Pressure pain sensitivity maps of both sides (dominant/non-dominant; symptomatic/non-symptomatic) were depicted for patients and controls. CTTH patients showed generalized lower PPT levels compared with both migraine patients ( P = 0.03) and controls ( P < 0.001). The migraine group had also lower PPT than healthy controls ( P < 0.001). The most sensitive location for the assessment of PPT was the neck portion of the upper trapezius muscle in both patient groups and healthy controls ( P < 0.001). PPT was negatively related to some clinical pain features in both CTTH and unilateral migraine patients (all P < 0.05). Side-to-side differences were found in strictly unilateral migraine, but not in those subjects with bilateral pain, i.e. CTTH. These data support the influence of muscle hyperalgesia in both CTTH and unilateral migraine patients and point towards a general pressure pain hyperalgesia of neck-shoulder muscles in headache patients, particularly in CTTH.

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Stretch Reflex and Pressure Pain Thresholds in Chronic Tension-Type Headache Patients and Healthy Controls

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01772.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 556-565 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

A Peddireddy ◽

K Wang ◽

P Svensson ◽

L Arendt-Nielsen

Keyword(s):

Stretch Reflex ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Pain Thresholds ◽

Pressure Pain ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽

Type Headache ◽

Masseter Muscles

To compare the jaw-stretch reflex and pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) patients and healthy controls, 30 patients (15 male and 15 female) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were investigated. Stretch reflexes were recorded in the temporalis and masseter muscles and PPT was determined in the anterior temporalis, splenius capitis and masseter muscles. The results showed that the amplitude of the stretch reflex in CTTH patients was higher compared with control subjects ( P < 0.045), and higher in women compared with men in the right and left anterior temporalis muscles ( P < 0.009). There were no differences in the PPT value between CTTH and control subjects ( P > 0.509), whereas women showed significantly lower PPT measurements ( P < 0.046). The results demonstrated a facilitation of the stretch reflex pathways in CTTH patients that is unrelated to measures of pericranial sensitivity.

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CHRONIC TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE: MUSCLE OVERACTIVITY VERSUS DEFICIENT PAIN CONTROLS

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2018.v11i8.24433 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 143 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bhawna Mattoo ◽

Suman Tanwar ◽

Rohit Bhatia ◽

Manjari Tripathi ◽

Renu Bhatia

Keyword(s):

Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Pain Modulation ◽

Electromyographic Activity ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Pain Mechanisms ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Biceps Femoris Muscle ◽

Type Headache ◽

Central Factors

Objective: The oscillating school of thought between the peripheral and central mechanisms of pain origin hinders the selection of appropriate therapy for chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). The aim of this study was to assess the role of central and peripheral pain mechanisms together in CTTH.Methods: In the present study, we compared surface electromyography (sEMG) amplitudes and nociceptive flexion thresholds in patients diagnosed with CTTH (n=30) with age-matched healthy controls (n=30). For central pain modulation with spinal and supraspinal influences on nociception, we recorded nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) by stimulating the sural nerve and observing the biceps femoris muscle response. sEMG was done for the temporalis and trapezius muscles at rest, during mental activity and during maximum voluntary contraction to assess contribution from peripheral pain.Results: We observed a decreased NFR threshold in CTTH patients as compared to healthy controls, suggesting a hyperalgesic state due to central factors. Electromyographic activity of trapezius muscle was increased at rest in CTTH while both temporalis and trapezius showed an overactivity in patients during mental task.Conclusion: Central factors are important in the pathogenesis of CTTH while, peripheral factors, such as stress-related muscle spasm may also contribute to pain state.

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Exteroceptive Suppression Patterns of Masseter and Temporalis Muscles in Central and Peripheral Headache Disorders

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00389.x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 444-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

C Tataroglu ◽

A Kanik ◽

G Sahin ◽

A özge ◽

D Yalçinkaya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Temporomandibular Joint ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Secondary Headache ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Headache Disorders ◽

Onset Latency ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Exteroceptive Suppression ◽

Type Headache

The objective of this study was to compare the exteroceptive suppression patterns of masseter and temporalis muscles in patients with primary and secondary headache disorders originating from peripheral joint dysfunction. We accomplished the temporalis and masseter exteroceptive suppression in 28 patients with migraine, 25 patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTH), 22 patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and 18 healthy controls. The onset latencies and duration of the first suppression period (S1) was not significantly different between the patients and controls. The duration of the second suppression period (S2) was shorter in patients with CTH, migraine (analysed during attack) and TMJ dysfunction than those obtained from controls. A distinctive finding was significantly prolonged onset latency in patients with TMJ over those obtained from patients with CTH and migraine. We concluded that the onset latency of the S2 period is a useful parameter in the differential diagnosis of primary and peripheral headache disorders.

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Blink reflexes in chronic tension-type headache patients and healthy controls

Clinical Neurophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.clinph.2009.06.024 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 120 (9) ◽

pp. 1711-1716 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Anitha Peddireddy ◽

Kelun Wang ◽

Peter Svensson ◽

Lars Arendt-Nielsen

Keyword(s):

Tension Type Headache ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Type Headache ◽

Headache Patients

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Tension-Type Headache, Chronic Tension-Type Headache, and Other Chronic Headache Types

Essentials of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia ◽

10.1016/b978-0-443-06651-1.50040-x ◽

2005 ◽

pp. 289-292

Author(s):

J ROZENTAL

Keyword(s):

Chronic Headache ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Type Headache

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Exteroceptive Suppression of Temporalis Muscle Activity: Findings in Headache

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1046/j.1468-2982.1993.1301011.x ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 11-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Thomas-Martin Wallasch ◽

Hartmut Göbel

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activity ◽

Silent Period ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

Temporalis Muscle ◽

Pharmacological Agents ◽

Chronic Tension Type Headache ◽

Exteroceptive Suppression ◽

Headache Diagnosis ◽

Secondary Phenomenon ◽

Type Headache

Exteroceptive suppression of temporalis muscle activity was proposed by Schoenen and co-workers in 1987 as a tool in headache diagnosis and research. Their finding of a decreased or abolished second silent period (ES2) in chronic tension-type headache sufferers has been confirmed by several independent laboratories during the last five years. Temporalis silent periods have also been studied in various other types of headaches. Their modulation by neuropsychological factors and pharmacological agents has also been investigated as well as their retest reliability. The pathophysiological concept of muscle contraction in tension-type headache has been challenged by studies using temporalis silent periods. The exterocepfive suppression of temporalis muscle activity points unequivocally towards a central pathogenetic mechanism, although it remains unclear whether the abnormalities of temporalis ES2 represent the primary dysfunction or a secondary phenomenon in chronic tension-type headache.

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