Blink reflex in migraine: A prospective study in a tertiary care centre.

Dr. Sundar Shanmugam; Dr. Rithvik Ramesh; Dr. Philo Hazeena; Dr. Shankar Venkatasubramanian

Volume : IX, Issue : V, May - 2020

Blink reflex in migraine: A prospective study in a tertiary care centre.

Dr. Sundar Shanmugam, Dr. Rithvik Ramesh, Dr. Philo Hazeena, Dr. Shankar Venkatasubramanian

Abstract :

Introduction: Trigemino–vascular system is postulated to play a role in the initiation and propagation of migraine headache by sensitisation of ainstem trigeminal connections. This study was conducted to investigate the blink reflex which is a non–invasive assessment modality of the trigeminal nerve to determine its involvement in patients with migraine headache. Aims: To investigate the involvement of trigeminal nerve in migraine patients by performing the Blink reflex test on migraine patients. Latencies recorded form the test was used to evaluate the changes in migraine patients. Methods and Material: 50 migraine patients and 40 controls were included in the study after application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria and baseline characteristics were recorded. The study was conducted using an EMG device with blink reflex software, and blink assessment was done and latencies were recorded and analysed. Results: On comparison of latencies between the control and the patient groups, significantly prolonged latencies were observed in the R1 and R2 recordings of migraine patients (p<0.005). There was no statistically significant correlation between the recorded latencies and age, gender, attack duration and frequency. Conclusions: As demonstrated in the previous studies, trigemini–vascular system is found to be involved in migraine patients.