Is there any difference in the levels of antibodies against helicobacter pylori infection between the patients with migraine headache with or without aura?

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have focused on a positive correlation between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and occurrence of migraine headache. This study aimed to determine the role of H. pylori infection in the two common types of migraine headache including with (MA) and without aura (MO). Methods: In a case-control study, 84 patients (with aura or without aura migraine headache) and 49 healthy individuals were enrolled. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) against H. Pylori in patients and controls. Findings: The mean age was 35.8 ± 11.1 and 33.4 ± 18.9 years in patient and control groups, respectively. The mean level of IgM antibody was significantly more in patients (26.3 ± 23.1 U/ml) compared to control group (17.5 ± 11.2 U/ml) (P = 0.004). It was not any significant difference between the levels of IgM and IgG antibodies in patients with migraine headache with or without aura. In addition, the mean HIT6 score was significantly more in patients with migraine headache with aura (65.5 ± 4.7) compared to those without aura (54.9 ± 5.3) (P < 0.001). The only significant correlation was found between the IgG antibody level and the HIT6 score in patients with migraine headache with aura (r = 0.407; P = 0.011) and without aura (r = 0.499; P = 0.002). There was significant relationship between the normal and high levels of IgG antibody and the severity of headache (P = 0.002) in all the patients. The risk of migraine occurrence in patients was not significantly associated with the levels of IgG and IgM antibodies. Conclusion: Further investigation should be designed to gain better conclusion about the role of H. Pylori treatment and eradication in the course of migraine headaches. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.