Platelet Membrane Lipid Composition and the Frequency of Migraine

SYNOPSIS A variety of evidence associates abnormalities in platelet function with the development of migraine. Given the pivotal role of platelet membranes in these functions, it was proposed that migraine patients have abnormalities in their platelet membrane composition. To examine this hypothesis, platelet membrane lipid composition was analyzed in 16 migraine patients and 10 control subjects. The content of phosphatidylcholine, the amount of arachidonic acid in phosphatidylcholine, and the amount of unsaturated fatty acids in most phospholipids were significantly increased in patients with infrequent migraine as compared to controls or patients with frequent migraine. These results suggest that membrane lipid composition may play a role in the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.