Reduced serotonin vascular sensitivity in ergotamine abusers |
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Authors: | Alessandro Panconesi Giancarlo Franchi Pier Luigi Del Bianco Bruno Anselmi Renato Andreini Federigo Sicuteri |
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Institution: | Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Italy. |
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Abstract: | The action of ergotamine on the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) venous sensitivity was studied in ergotamine abuser and non-abuser migraine patients. Ergotamine abusers showed reduced 5-HT hand vein contraction during abuse, compared to seven days after ergotamine withdrawal. In non-ergotamine users, the 5-HT venoconstriction was not significantly modified 12 h after a single intramuscular ergotamine (0.25 mg) administration. Even the administration of ergotamine locally into the vein did not change the venospasm of 5-HT given acutely in the same vein. Therefore, it seems that the 5-HT antagonism does not contribute to the therapeutic effect of ergotamine during the migraine attack. Moreover, the reduced 5-HT responsiveness during ergotamine abuse may possibly be compatible with the chronic headache present in some abusers, the withdrawal headache attacks and the abuse itself. |
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Keywords: | Ergotamine ergotamine abuse 5-hydroxytryptamine migraine venoconstriction |
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