Interictal plasma urotensin-II concentrations in migraine and tension-type headache: a case–control biomarker study

Abstract Objectives As our understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine continues to improve, so too do targeted treatments. It is now known that vasoactive neuropeptides, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), play a role in migraine pathophysiology and CGRP antagonists are utilized in treatment. Urotensin II (U-II) represents the most potent vasoconstrictor peptide and research into its association with migraine remains scarce. The current study endeavors to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms which underpin migraine pathophysiology. Methods The study comprised patients suffering from migraine and tension-type headache alongside a healthy control group. The control group was selected from healthy volunteers of matching gender and age. In the interictal period, plasma samples were collected from patients with migraine and tension-type headache. The study compared plasma U-II levels of 33 migraine patients, 30 tension-type headache patients, and the control group. Results Plasma U-II levels were significantly higher in the migraine group compared to both the tension-type headache group and the control group. Furthermore, plasma U-II levels were slightly higher in the tension-type headache group than in the control group, however, a statistically significant difference was not observed. Conclusions These preliminary findings suggest that U-II may be involved in migraine pathophysiology. Higher interictal plasma U-II levels in the migraine group support further investigation of U-II as a possible biomarker candidate. However, given the cross-sectional design and limited sample size, these results should be considered hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger prospective studies.