Reduced serum levels of adiponectin in tension-type headache

• Adiponectin (ADP) levels were reduced in tension-type headache (TTH) patients.
• ADP was not significantly different in episodic and chronic TTH.
• The levels of anxiety and depression did not influence ADP levels.
• ADP levels were not altered by the presence of headache at the time of evaluation.

Background and objectivesInflammatory mediators have been studied in tension type headache (TTH) pathophysiology; however, their role is not yet well established. The aim of the present study was to investigate adiponectin (ADP) and its association with clinical parameters and psychiatric comorbidities in TTH patients.MethodsThis was a cross sectional study including TTH patients and controls. Beck Depression (BDI) and Anxiety (BAI) Inventories, and Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) were recorded. Serum levels of ADP were measured by ELISA.ResultsForty-eight TTH patients and forty-eight controls without headache were enrolled in the study. ADP levels were significantly lower among patients with TTH [31.1 (20.4–69.20) versus 37.8 (24.9–71.4) ng/mL (P = 0.008)]. ADP levels were not influenced by BDI and BAI scores, body mass index (BMI), or HIT-6.ConclusionADP levels were reduced in TTH, independently of psychiatric comorbidities, BMI, and headache impact.