Migraine is the most prevalent and disabling neurological disorder worldwide. The underlying pathophysiology is still unknown and treatment options are inadequate. Since the 1960s serotonin

(5-HT) has been implicated in migraine pathophysiology with findings of lower plasma serotonin levels in migraine patients between attacks and increases during migraine attacks. However, the exact role of brain serotonin levels in migraine athophysiology is still unknown. The overall goal of the thesis was to investigate the serotonergic system in the migraine brain using positron emission tomography imaging of two different serotonin receptors. 

In study 1 we investigated 5-HT4 receptor binding in interictal episodic migraine without aura patients and compared them to healthy controls. 5-HT4 receptor binding is inversely related

to stable brain serotonin levels and can be used as a biomarker of brain serotonin levels. Based on the serotonin deficiency theory in migraine, we hypothesized that migraine patients would have higher 5-HT4 receptor binding compared to controls. Instead, we found that patients had lower 5-HT4 receptor binding indicating higher brain serotonin levels. In study 2 we investigated whether brain serotonin levels were involved in the conversion from episodic to chronic migraine…. 

Supervisor: Messoud Ashina.

Primary co-supervisor: Prof. Gitte Moos Knudsen. 

Project supervisors: Dr. Anders Hougaard and Dr. Hanne Demant Hansen.