INCREASED SPONTANEOUS RELEASE OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA CACHECTIN IN HEADACHE PATIENTS - A POSSIBLE CORRELATION WITH PLASMA ENDOTOXIN AND HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS

Tumor Necrosis Factor-αcachectin (TNF-αcachectin), Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), ACTH, βEndorphine (βEPH), and Cortisol (F) levels were determined in 33 Headache patients: 22 patients were affected with Migraine (M) and 11 patients with Chronic Type Tension Headache (CTTH). TNF-αcachectin serum level was detected in 15 out of 22 migraneous patients and in no CTTH patients. Plasma LPS was observed in 11 out of 15 TNF-αcachectin positive migraneous patients (73% and in 3 out of 11 CTTH patients (27% A negative correlation was observed between TNF-αcachectin values and either ACTH or βEPH. In the group of migraneous patients the presence of serum TNF-αcachectin showed a sensibility of. 6 and a specificity of 1. The endocrine and immunological implications concerning these data are discussed. © 1991 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.