[Migraine and food intolerance: a controlled study in pediatric patients]

Abstract

The possible correlation between migraine and food intolerance has been found to be of great interest in the recent literature. We have studied 43 patients aged from 7 to 18 years suffering from migraine without aura according to the classification of International Headache Society (IHS): they had at least 2 attacks monthly and they were pharmacological free of any prophylactic treatment for the latest three months. Each patient was given an allergologic anamnesis. Half of them (group A) were first in oligoantigenic regimen (including 8 simple foods) for 4 weeks. Afterward each patient has been challenged weekly in an open trial, introducing in the diet the different foods and additives previously eliminated; then they have been controlled in a simple double blind study. We have taken skin tests (PRICK method) for the most important allergens (foods and main inhalants), plasma levels of total and specific IgE (PRIST and RAST method), and moreover we have taken histamine plasma levels at the beginning and at the end of the oligoantigenic diet, and during challenge test, only in case of headache attacks. The second half of the patients (group B) were not following any diet nor a pharmacological prophylaxis, but they have been followed up with a clinical diary. Among the patients on oligoantigenic diet 12 only concluded the trial: 6/12 presented a completed remission of headache, 5/12 had a significant improvement of the migrainous pattern, 1/12 patients did not get any improvement after the dietetic treatment. The food recognized responsible of the attacks were: cacao, banana, egg, hazelnuts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)