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Chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors

Sensitization of myofascial pain pathways may play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic headache. Animal studies have shown that sensitization of pain pathways may be caused by associated with activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the generation of nitric oxide (NO)....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Ashina, Messoud, Bendtsen, Lars
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Springer-Verlag Italia 2001
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611826/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s101940170042
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author Ashina, Messoud
Bendtsen, Lars
author_facet Ashina, Messoud
Bendtsen, Lars
author_sort Ashina, Messoud
collection PubMed
description Sensitization of myofascial pain pathways may play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic headache. Animal studies have shown that sensitization of pain pathways may be caused by associated with activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the generation of nitric oxide (NO). Furthermore, it has been shown that NOS inhibitors reduce central sensitization in animal models of persistent pain. On the basis of these findings, we investigated the analgesic effect of the NOS inhibitor, N-N(G)-methyl arginine hydrochloride, and demonstrated that this drug significantly reduced headache as well as myofascial factors in patients with chronic tension-type headache. In addition, we demonstrated that infusion of the NO donor, glyceryl trinitrate, induces headache in these patients, probably by enhancing the sensitizing effect of pre-existing myofascial input. These studies strongly indicate that NO plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of tension-type headache. We suggested that the analgesic effect of NOS inhibition in patients with chronic tension-type headache is most likely due to reduction of central sensitization at the level of the spinal dorsal horn or trigeminal nucleus, or both. Furthermore, these data suggest that inhibition of NOS may become a novel means of future treatment of chronic headache.
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spelling pubmed-36118262013-04-01 Chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors Ashina, Messoud Bendtsen, Lars J Headache Pain Review Sensitization of myofascial pain pathways may play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic headache. Animal studies have shown that sensitization of pain pathways may be caused by associated with activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the generation of nitric oxide (NO). Furthermore, it has been shown that NOS inhibitors reduce central sensitization in animal models of persistent pain. On the basis of these findings, we investigated the analgesic effect of the NOS inhibitor, N-N(G)-methyl arginine hydrochloride, and demonstrated that this drug significantly reduced headache as well as myofascial factors in patients with chronic tension-type headache. In addition, we demonstrated that infusion of the NO donor, glyceryl trinitrate, induces headache in these patients, probably by enhancing the sensitizing effect of pre-existing myofascial input. These studies strongly indicate that NO plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of tension-type headache. We suggested that the analgesic effect of NOS inhibition in patients with chronic tension-type headache is most likely due to reduction of central sensitization at the level of the spinal dorsal horn or trigeminal nucleus, or both. Furthermore, these data suggest that inhibition of NOS may become a novel means of future treatment of chronic headache. Springer-Verlag Italia 2001-06 /pmc/articles/PMC3611826/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s101940170042 Text en © Springer-Verlag Italia 2001
spellingShingle Review
Ashina, Messoud
Bendtsen, Lars
Chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors
title Chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors
title_full Chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors
title_fullStr Chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors
title_full_unstemmed Chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors
title_short Chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors
title_sort chronic headache and nitric oxide inhibitors
topic Review
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611826/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s101940170042
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