Dura and Migraine

MRI Specialist Migraine Treatment Centers

Changes in dura has long been thought to be a cause of migraine, but there is no conclusive evidence to support the theory.

The below exert discusses findings of a study investigating the possible role of dura in migraine pain. The author’s consideration of animal studies on the matter and future perspective is a valuable opinion on the matter especially considering that there is no evidence for the widely accepted theory of dura involvement in migraine.

Discussion:

“Changes in the dura have been implicated as a possible cause for migraine pain, but the anatomical location of the dura within the cranium has made this hypothesis difficult to verify. That direct stimulation of the meningeal arteries and dural sinuses in humans leads to painful headache-like sensations similar in location to some migraine pain [1,2], and that mechanical meningeal trigeminal sensory fibers and cause headache pain, [19–21] suggest that migraine pain could possibly originate in the dura. However, there are other structures that receive their sensory innervation from the trigeminal nerve, and direct stimulation of these structures, such as the lateral ventricle and the superficial temporal, supra-orbital and occipital terminal branches of the external carotid artery also gives rise to headache-like pain [1]. Indeed, there is compelling evidence that the terminal branches of the external carotid artery are a source of migraine pain. In addition, painful stimulation of the temple not only induces migraine-like attacks in migraine sufferers, but also results in nausea and extracranial vasodilatation in migraineurs, which indicates that extracranial nociceptive input may play a part in the genesis of migraine pain.”

The full text can be viewed here:

The-Dura-and-Migraine.-Future-Neurology-20127-573-580