Features of nociceptive flexor reflex in patients with migraine

The aim was to study the characteristics of the nociceptive flexor reflex in patients with migraine without aura and chronic migraine. The object and methods of research. A total of 31 patients (11 men, 20 women, average age 49 (40–52) years) with migraine without aura (1^st group; n=20) and СM (2^nd group; n=11)) were examined. Clinical neurological examination, subjective severity of headache was determined with visual analogue scale and study of nociceptive flexor reflex (indicators of pain threshold, reflex threshold, pain threshold/reflex threshold ratio were identified. Results. Data of the visual analogue scale in both groups did not differ significantly, the values were moderate. Statistically significantly lower levels of pain threshold, reflex threshold and the pain threshold/reflex threshold ratio in the 2nd group were found compared to group of healthy subjects. There were no statistically significant differences in these indicators between patients of the 1^st and 2^nd group, and 1^st group compared to the control. Conclusions. Patients with chronic migraine have significantly lower values of pain threshold, reflex threshold and the pain threshold/reflex threshold ratio in comparison with patients with migraine without aura and healthy subjects. To assess the functional activity of nociceptive and antinociceptive systems, the identification of a tendency to chronic headache is advisable to use the methodology for determining nociceptive flexor reflex.