Serum YKL-40 (chitinase 3-like protein 1) levels in migraine patients during an attack

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate YKL-40 in migraine patients during migraine attacks. Methods: In this prospective study, 30 migraine patients with aura (MWA) and 30 migraine patients without aura (MWOA) who presented to the Neurological Outpatient Department of Konya City Hospital during a migraine episode as well as 28 healthy controls were included. According to the manufacturer's recommendations, serum YKL-40 levels were determined using an ELISA kit (FineTest). Statistical analysis of the data was performed with the IBM SPSS version 20.0 program. Results: The mean gender and age were similar between groups (p > 0.05). The serum YKL-40 level was 3575 +/- 604.975 pg/ml in the MWA group, 3339 +/- 492.689 pg/ml in the MWOA group and 3190 +/- 544.018 pg/ml in the control group. YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in MWA than in the control group (p=0.028). YKL-40 levels were similar in the MWA and MWOA groups (p=0.302). No significant difference was found between the group with MWOA and the control group (p=0.915). Conclusion: Although YKL-40 levels are increased in patients with migraine with aura during an attack, comprehensive studies with a larger sample are needed to clarify the relationship between YKL-40 and migraine.