Migraine, allodynia, sensitisation and all of that ...

Migraine is the most common form of disabling primary headache. One common and often troublesome feature of the disorder is an abnormal sensory state where normally innocuous stimuli are felt as painful: allodynia. This occurs in about two-thirds of patients and manifests as common complaints, such as pain when touching the hair. The neurophysiological correlate of allodynia is sensitisation, an increased afferent barrage for an unchanged peripheral stimulus. Sensitisation may be peripheral, central or disinhibitory. The potential mechanisms of each of these and their possible manipulation by treatments of the acute attack are considered. Copyright 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.