[The pathogenetic bases of hemicrania].

Studies of regional cerebral blood flow in migraine with aura have shown that the aura phase is associated with hypoperfusion in the cortical area which relates topographically to the clinical symptoms. Thus, the previously hypoperfused area becomes hyperperfused. However, there is no strict association between hyperperfusion and headache. The mode of hypoperfusion propagation recalls the circulatory manifestations of experimental cortical spreading depression. In addition, there are no focal cerebral blood flow abnormalities in migraine without aura. During the headache phase of migraine, dilation of both the large extra- and intracranial arteries takes place. A bulk of biochemical evidence has suggested that the pain in migraine is caused by blood vessels which are dilated and sensitized by circulating pain-producing substances e.g. bradykinin, serotonin and histamine (sterile inflammation). Recently, perivascular trigeminal fibres (trigeminovascular system) which, when stimulated, release sensory peptides (substance P and the calcitonin gene-related peptide) capable of provoking marked vasodilation and plasma extravasation (neurogenic inflammation) have been identified. Thus, the activation of the trigeminovascular system is probably involved in the vasodilatative and nociceptive phenomena of the migraine attack. The finding of a reduced endorphinergic brain tonus in migraine patients supports the hypothesis of a central nociceptive derangement in migraine. Nonetheless, the exact relationship between vasodilation and headache remains to be defined. However, the potent antimigraine effectiveness of sumatriptan--an agonist of the serotonin receptors which selectively constricts dilated arteries during the migraine attack--once again stresses the fact that serotonin is probably the crucial factor in the link between vasodilation and headache.