Sex hormone profiles may affect calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in women with migraine

A study evaluated calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels measured in the plasma and tear fluid from women with episodic migraine who either had a regular menstrual cycle (RMC, n=30), were taking combined oral contraception (COC, n=30), or were postmenopausal (n=30), and in corresponding control groups without migraine.
Among women with RMC, CGRP levels were significantly higher in those with versus without migraine in both the plasma (5.95 vs 4.61 pg/ml) and tear fluid (1.20 vs 0.4 ng/ml). These associations were not seen in postmenopausal women or those taking COC, however.
Based on these findings, the authors conclude that sex hormone profiles could influence CGRP levels in women with migraine, and that measuring CGRP in tear fluid is feasible.