Migraines, severe headaches that last for greater than four hours, are often characterized by specific symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and throbbing pain. More than 30 million Americans suffer from migraines, mostly women, yet their origins remain unclear. Now, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified adiponectin (ADP) as a marker useful for predicting both migraine pain severity and response to treatment. The small pilot study, published in this month’s issue of the journal Headache found that the ratio of high molecular weight ADP to low molecular weight ADP was predictive of acute treatment response to sumatriptan/naproxen sodium compared to a placebo. The researchers hope that ADP offers a new drug target for episodic migraines.
