Could There Be a Relationship Between Paranasal Sinus and Migraine Etiology?

Abstract

Aim: Migraine is a complex neurological disease with a neurogenic inflammatory component in which nitric oxide (NO) levels increase. Studies have shown that the NO level produced in adults is closely related to the paranasal sinus volume. The aim of this study is to investigate the differences in paranasal sinus volumes responsible for NO synthesis in migraine patients. Material and Method: The paranasal sinuses of migraine patients (n=50) and healthy subjects (n=50) were examined using cranial T1-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI). Right and left maxillary, sphenoid and frontal-ethmoid sinus volumes of the groups were calculated in 3D Slicer program and recorded in mm3. Statistical analysis of the study was performed with IBM SPSS 23.0 and p<0.05 values were considered significant. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between migraine patients and healthy subjects across all sinus volumes, with the sinus volumes of migraine patients being higher than those of healthy subjects (p<0.05). Conclusion: We think that the fact that the paranasal sinus volume, which is primarily responsible for NO synthesis, was found to be high in migraine patients may be related to the high NO level in migraine patients.