Increased fibrinogen, d-dimer and galectin-3 levels in patients with migraine

There are limited studies evaluating the fibrinogen levels in patients with migraine. It remains unknown whether the levels of the haematological marker of thromboembolism, d -dimer, and the levels of galectin-3, which plays an important role in inflammation as a proinflammatory mediator, change during the attacks in patients with migraine. The present study aims to compare galectin-3, fibrinogen and d -dimer levels in patients with migraine during the attacks and interictal periods, and to compare galectin-3, fibrinogen and d -dimer levels between patients with migraine and healthy controls to investigate the role of these parameters in the pathogenesis of migraine. Fifty-nine patients with migraine and 30 age-gender matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Blood galectin-3, fibrinogen and d -dimer levels were measured in patients with migraine. Patients with migraine had higher levels of galectin-3, fibrinogen and d -dimer compared to the healthy controls ( p 0.05). Migraine patients had higher d -dimer levels during the attacks compared to the patients in the interictal period in the migraine group ( p = 0.05). In conclusion, we found increased levels of fibrinogen, d -dimer and galectin-3 in patients with migraine compared to the healthy control group. Furthermore, we showed increased galectin-3 levels in patients with migraine, and higher d -dimer levels during migraine attacks compared to the interictal periods for the first time. These findings may be associated with the hypercoagulability and neurogenic inflammation during migraine headaches.