SEX-HORMONES, PROLACTIN LEVELS, OSMOLARITY AND ELECTROLYTE PATTERNS IN MENSTRUAL MIGRAINE - RELATIONSHIP WITH FLUID RETENTION

SYNOPSIS In order to evaluate a possible connection between fluid retention and menstrual crisis, sex hormones, prolactin levels, osmolarity and electrolyte patterns were investigated in a carefully selected group of migrainous women with regular menses and chronological pre‐menstrual attacks. These include: a) osmolarity, in the span between the two menstrual cycles; b) estradiol, progesterone, prolactin and electrolytes in the follicular and luteal stage, and again immediately before the menstrual attack; c) aldosterone rhythm in the follicular and luteal stages, and again immediately before and during the migraine crisis. Higher plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone were found in the migraine patients group when compared with the control group. Also prolactin levels appeared to be slightly higher in the migraine group, but no statistical significance had been obtained. In migraine sufferers, osmolarity values fell during the menstrual attack. Our findings regarding aldosterone changes, as we had previously shown, may explain fluid retention in menstrual migraine sufferers. However a causal relationship is still open to question. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved