Background: Migraine is a highly prevalent and frequently disabling condition. Its etiology is multifactorial, involving various genetic, environmental and inflammatory factors, hence, it is reasonable to assess the serum C-reactive protein level and monocyte count in migraine.
Objective: Assessment of the serum C-reactive protein level and monocyte count among migraineurs.
Subjects and Methods: This case-control prospective study was conducted on twenty-seven migraineurs attended the Neurology Outpatient Clinic of Zagazig University Hospital and diagnosed according to The International Classification of Headache Disorders, (3rd edition) and twenty-seven controls. All subjects underwent: Detailed medical, neurological and headache history, complete general and neurological examination and investigations: complete blood count (including monocyte count), liver and kidney function tests, lipid profile, blood glucose level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level , electrocardiography and computed tomography brain and/or magnetic resonance imaging brain when indicated.
Results: Migraine patients without preventive treatment had higher C-reactive protein level and monocytes count in comparison to others with treatment however; the difference was not a statistically significant. We can notice also that there is no correlation between monocyte count and C-reactive protein. In our study the monocyte count showed a statistically significant higher values in case group than control also, was a statistically significant area under the curve and cut off of monocyte regarding detection of cases >550, with sensitivity, specificity, +ve predictive, -ve predictive and accuracy were 81.5%, 59.3%, 66.7%, 76.1% and 70.3% respectively.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the elevated C-reactive protein level and monocyte count are associated with migraine.