Rev Neurol France
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The hypothesis that migraine pain is caused by vasodilation has been challenged by clinical and experimental evidence. ⋯ Contrary to a longstanding and widespread belief, vasodilatation is neither sufficient nor necessary to cause migraine headache and is probably an epiphenomenon.
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The role of vasodilatation in migraine pathophysiology is still debated with three hypotheses. The first is that vasodilatation of meningeal or intracranial arteries are the primary cause of pain. ⋯ We review in this part the arguments in favor of the old hypothesis that vasodilation is the primary cause of pain. Finally we show that there is a mild vasodilation during the attacks provoked by CGRP infusion.