Relationship of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Pediatric Headache in Obesity

Jee, Soo Hee; Rho, Young Il

Abstract

PURPOSE
Both headache and obesity are prevalent and chronic conditions among children. A well-known pathophysiology of migraine is that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is an important postsynaptic mediator of trigemino-vascular inflammation. Plasma CGRP levels have been shown to increase in obese individuals during the headache phase of migraines. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between headache and plasma CGRP levels in obese children.
METHODS
We prospectively studied plasma CGRP levels in 33 patients (20 overweight and obese subjects without headache, 13 overweight and obese subjects with headache) who visited Chosun University Hospital from March 2009 to September 2009. Blood samples were collected from cubital veins and plasma levels of CGRP were measured by radioimmunoassay.
RESULTS
The mean age was 12.3+/-2.3 (range 6-15 years) and mean CGRP level was 19.1+/-2.5 pg/ml in the overweight and obese with headache group and 17.4+/-5.1 pg/mL in the overweight and obese without headache group. In the group CGRP levels lower than 19 pg/mL, mean headache frequency per month, mean severity, and mean disability were 17.0+/-18.4, 4.0+/-2.8 and 2.0+/-0.0, respectively. In the group with CGRP levels of 19 or greater pg/ml, levels were 11.0+/-9.8, 5.6+/-1.0, and 23.1+/-8.2, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The mean CGRP level in overweight and obese children with headache was not significantly higher than in those without headache (P =0.202). Further, there was no significant correlation between CGRP level and frequency, severity of headache, and disability due to headache (P > 0.05). Further studies are needed to access the relationship of CGRP and pediatric headache in obese subjects.