A comparison of migraine patients with and without allodynic symptoms

Abstract

Background: Although the association of symptoms of allodynia with migraine have been reported, there is a paucity of studies on Asians.

Aims: To evaluate allodynic symptoms in migraine patients and its relationship with various clinical variables.

Methods: Consecutive migraine patients meeting the International Headache Society criteria were evaluated. Frequency, duration of illness, precipitating factors and severity of headache, associated symptoms, and functional disability were noted. Presence of allodynic symptoms and its distribution were recorded and correlated with demographic and clinical variables.

Results: One hundred eighty-two consecutive patients with migraine without aura were included. Mean age was 30.7 years and 51 of the patients were males. Allodynic symptoms were present in 57.1%, which were triggered by various stimuli. In majority of patients, allodynic symptoms were induced by multiple stimuli. Symptoms of allodynia were restricted to the initial site of headache in 32.7%, holocranial in 46.2% and cephalic and extracephalic in 21.1% patients. Duration, frequency of migraine attacks, and functional disability were significantly associated with allodynic symptoms. Rizatriptan resulted in better relief of headache at 2 hours compared with ibuprofen in allodynic patients.

Conclusions: Allodynic symptoms occurred in 57.1% patients with migraine. In allodynic patients with moderate-to-severe headache, rizatriptan resulted in greater pain relief compared with ibuprofen. These results need further confirmation in larger study.