Proinflammatory pathways in cervicogenic headache

Abstract

Cervicogenic headache (CEH) is a relatively common form of headache arising from the neck structures. The pathophysiology probably results from various local pain-producing factors such as intervertebral dysfunction, with a no less important role played by the frequent coexistence of a history of head traumas. This report represents a series of pathophysiological studies in CEH patients and the results achieved by pharmacological treatment of the disease. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha) exert their multifunctional biological effects by promoting and increasing the molecular events of cellular inflammation. We found that the cytokine pattern of CEH patients is--similar to cluster headache--biased towards an inflammatory status. Higher levels of both IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha were detected in the sera of CEH patients than the levels in patients with migraine without aura and in healthy subjects. There were also differences between the spontaneous and mechanically worsened pain phases of CEH. Nitric oxide (NO) synthase is also activated in cervicogenic headache. No change in NO metabolites levels has been observed after NO donor administration. This behaviour is clearly different from that observed in migraine and tension headache patients. We conclude that the high degree of cytokine and NO production in CH may depend on the differing pathophysiological mechanisms at work in CEH than in other forms of headache.