Trace
amines, including
tyramine,
octopamine and
synephrine, are closely related to classic
biogenic amines. In one study, where these substances were found elevated in plasma of migraineurs, it was hypothesized that trace
amine metabolism is deranged in
migraine. To confirm these findings, we studied, using a multichannel electrochemical high-performance liquid chromatography system, the concentrations of trace
amines in platelets of
migraine without aura (MoA) and
migraine with aura (MA) patients in
headache-free period, compared with controls. Platelet concentrations of trace
amines, although elevated in both
migraine types, showed a different profile in MoA and MA.
Octopamine was significantly higher in MoA sufferers (0.69 +/- 0.43 ng/10(8) platelets) compared with both control subjects (0.22 +/- 0.16 ng/10(8) platelets) and MA patients (0.39 +/- 0.37 ng/10(8) platelets).
Synephrine was significantly higher in MA patients (0.72 +/- 0.44 ng/10(8) platelets) with respect to both controls (0.33 +/- 0.25 ng/10(8) platelets) and MoA sufferers (0.37 +/- 0.29 ng/10(8) platelets). These results strengthen the hypothesis that
tyrosine metabolism is deranged in
migraine and may participate in its pathophysiology.