Cinzia Cavestro1, Giancarlo Prandi2, Matteo Manildo3, Sabina Martini2, Corrado Genovesi3, Alberto Premoli2, Flavio Fraire4, Loris Neri5, Silvia Mandrino1, Marcella Ferrero1, Eugenia Rota6. 1. Headache Centre, Department of Neurology, ASL CN2, Alba, CN, Italy. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, S.S.D. Gastroenterology, ASL CN2, Alba, CN, Italy. 3. Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, ASL CN1, Mondovì, CN, Italy. 4. Department of Pathology, ASL CN2, Alba, CN, Italy. 5. Department of Nephrology, ASL CN2, Alba, CN, Italy. 6. Department of Neurology, San Giacomo Hospital, ASL Alessandria (AL), Via E. Raggio 12, 15067, Novi Ligure, AL, Italy. eugenia.rota.md@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The relationship between chronic Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and headache has been discussed for long; nevertheless, the results of the studies are still contrasting. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study is aimed to investigate a possible association between HP and headache, mainly migraine. METHODS: We screened, by a self-administered questionnaire, the subjects undergoing a breath test or an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Migraine was diagnosed according to the international criteria. RESULTS: A total of 3914 patients underwent a breath test and 2200 an esophagogastroduodenoscopy at two hospitals, in Piedmont (Italy), in a 5-year period; a total of 1362 questionnaires were included in the study. The mean age of the subjects was 53 years; there were 777 women (57%). HP was detected in 364 (27%) subjects. A total of 702 (51%) subjects suffered from headache: migraine with aura was diagnosed in 176 subjects (176/702, i.e., 25% of the headache group; 176/1362, i.e., 13% of the total population); migraine without aura in 98 subjects (98/702, i.e., 14% of the headache group; 98/1362, i.e., 7% of the total). The logistic regression model did not detect any significant association between HP infection and headache, while a significant association between HP and headache frequency (p =0.009) was found, independently of age, gender, comorbidity, and diagnostic category. CONCLUSION: Our study does not reveal an association between chronic HP infection and migraine. However, since HP is significantly associated with higher headache frequency, a role for HP as a risk factor for headache chronification, possibly underlain by inflammatory mechanisms, may be supposed.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between chronic Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and headache has been discussed for long; nevertheless, the results of the studies are still contrasting. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study is aimed to investigate a possible association between HP and headache, mainly migraine. METHODS: We screened, by a self-administered questionnaire, the subjects undergoing a breath test or an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Migraine was diagnosed according to the international criteria. RESULTS: A total of 3914 patients underwent a breath test and 2200 an esophagogastroduodenoscopy at two hospitals, in Piedmont (Italy), in a 5-year period; a total of 1362 questionnaires were included in the study. The mean age of the subjects was 53 years; there were 777 women (57%). HP was detected in 364 (27%) subjects. A total of 702 (51%) subjects suffered from headache: migraine with aura was diagnosed in 176 subjects (176/702, i.e., 25% of the headache group; 176/1362, i.e., 13% of the total population); migraine without aura in 98 subjects (98/702, i.e., 14% of the headache group; 98/1362, i.e., 7% of the total). The logistic regression model did not detect any significant association between HP infection and headache, while a significant association between HP and headache frequency (p =0.009) was found, independently of age, gender, comorbidity, and diagnostic category. CONCLUSION: Our study does not reveal an association between chronic HP infection and migraine. However, since HP is significantly associated with higher headache frequency, a role for HP as a risk factor for headache chronification, possibly underlain by inflammatory mechanisms, may be supposed.
Authors: L Pinessi; L Savi; R Pellicano; I Rainero; W Valfrè; S Gentile; D Cossotto; M Rizzetto; A Ponzetto Journal: Headache Date: 2000 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 5.887
Authors: A Gasbarrini; A De Luca; G Fiore; M Gambrielli; F Franceschi; V Ojetti; E S Torre; G Gasbarrini; P Pola; M Giacovazzo Journal: Hepatogastroenterology Date: 1998 May-Jun
Authors: Saskia van Hemert; Anne C Breedveld; Jörgen M P Rovers; Jan P W Vermeiden; Ben J M Witteman; Marcel G Smits; Nicole M de Roos Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2014-11-21 Impact factor: 4.003