Is the unresponsiveness to sumatriptan in cluster headache related to an alteration in the 5-HT receptors?

Abstract

It is well established that cluster headache shows impaired functions at the neuroimmunomodulatory system level. Defects in the expression of receptors for 5-HT, IL-1 and IL-2 have been found in these patients. Sumatriptan, an agonist activity for 5-HT1D receptor, truncates cluster headache attack in 74% of patients. Flow cytometric analysis of monocytes expressing 5-HT receptor in cluster headache patients showed different trends clearly correlated with the clinical response to sumatriptan. Our findings strongly support the concept that cluster headache patients which are non-responders to sumatriptan could present a block in their 5-HT receptor expression possibly due to specific autoantibodies for this receptor site.

• Authors: G Stirparo, B M Fusco, M Giacovazzo, C Rinaldi, P Martelletti
• Journal: International journal of clinical pharmacology research (Int J Clin Pharmacol Res) Vol. 13 Issue 5 Pg. 247-53 ( 1993) ISSN: 0251-1649 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 7515379 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
• Lipopolysaccharide Receptors
• Receptors, Serotonin
• Sumatriptan

Topics

• Adult
• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
• Cluster Headache (drug therapy, immunology)
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Lipopolysaccharide Receptors
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Monocytes (immunology)
• Neuroimmunomodulation
• Receptors, Serotonin (immunology)
• Sumatriptan (therapeutic use)