Cerebral blood flow velocity in migraine and chronic tension-type headache patients

S Karacay Ozkalayci, B Nazliel, HZ Batur Caglayan, C Irkec Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey Introduction: The present study seeks to use transcranial Doppler ultrasound to evaluate cerebral blood flow velocities in anterior and posterior circulation arteries, during an attack-free episode in migraine patients, with and without aura, as well as in chronic tension-type headache patients who were not receiving prophylactic medication. Methods: A total of 50 patients (35 female, 15 male) were evaluated during a headache-free episode: 30 migraine patients without aura (mean age: 32±8 years), 10 migraine patients with aura (mean age: 34±4 years), and 10 patients with chronic tension-type headache (mean age: 34±5 years). Results: No significant difference was present between anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral and vertebral arteries’ blood flow velocities between migraine patients, with and without aura, or in patients with a tension-type headache, and normal controls (p>0.05). However, a significant increase in basilar artery cerebral blood flow velocities relative to controls was present in patients with a tension-type headache (p>0.001). Conclusion: It is difficult to predict the main reason for the significant increase in basilar artery blood flow velocities in patients with chronic tension-type headache. It may be due to constriction of conductance or the dilatation of the resistance vessels. Keywords: cerebral blood flow, migraine without aura, migraine with aura, tension-type headache, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography&nbsp

Olfactory functioning in early multiple sclerosis: Sniffin’ Sticks Test study

Hale Z Batur Caglayan,1 Ceyla Irkec,1 Bijen Nazliel,1 Aslı Akyol Gurses,2 Irem Capraz11Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, 2Department of Neurology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey Introduction: Previous studies have shown that olfactory functioning is affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). This study assessed the level of the olfactory impairment in early MS by using the Sniffin’ Sticks Test.Methods: This study included 30 patients with MS and 30 healthy controls. We collected demographic and clinical data from participants and administered the Sniffin’ Sticks Test.Results: We found no differences between the MS and control groups in odor discrimination, odor identification, and threshold discrimination identification scores, but odor threshold (OT) scores were higher in the control group than in the MS group (P=0.49). In addition, we did not find any correlation between MS patients’ olfactory test scores and their scores on the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), disease duration, history of optic neuritis, or being on immunomodulatory therapy. Conclusion: In recent studies, odor threshold impairment seemed to be the most striking finding in patients with MS. Although the present study found a mild alteration in odor threshold, olfactory dysfunction appears to be a consequence of neurodegeneration in the higher order olfactory brain regions, which is thought to be a time-dependent process. Keywords: demyelinating diseases, multiple sclerosis, odors, olfaction, olfaction disorders, smel