Patients with headache and functional dyspepsia present meal-induced hypersensitivity of the stomach

J Headache Pain. 2005 Sep;6(4):223-6. doi: 10.1007/s10194-005-0191-0.

Abstract

Headache is a frequent feature of functional gastrointestinal disorders but there is no data on the responsible pathophysiological mechanism. The aim of this study was to verify whether alteration of post-prandial gastric tone or sensitivity might explain this association. Fourteen patients affected by functional dyspepsia (7 migraine without aura) and 7 healthy volunteers (HV) underwent gastric tone measurement in fasting condition and after the administration of a liquid meal by barostat. Gastric volume (GV) and accommodation were calculated as difference between mean post-prandial and mean fasting volume. Mean postprandial GV increase and fasting perception and discomfort threshold (DTh) were similar among the 3 groups. DTh after meal was lower in dyspeptic headache patients than in HV and dyspeptic without headache patients. Patients with migraine and functional dyspepsia may be characterised by meal-induced hypersensitivity of the stomach.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dyspepsia / complications*
  • Dyspepsia / physiopathology*
  • Eating*
  • Female
  • Gastric Emptying / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Migraine Disorders / complications*
  • Postprandial Period
  • Stomach / physiopathology*