Migraine is more frequent in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism in respect to controls, according to a recent study. Using a case-control strategy, 151 consecutive subclinical hypothyroidism patients (mean age 48.36 ± 15.86 years) and 150 controls (mean age 50.86 ± 9.19 years) were recruited. In all subjects, migraine characteristics were collected through a direct interview. Clinical and biochemical parameters (thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and anti-thyroid antibodies) were compared between subclinical hypothyroidism patients in comorbidity with migraine and subclinical hypothyroidism patients without migraine. Researchers found:
- The prevalence of lifetime migraine was significantly higher in subclinical hypothyroidism patients in comparison with controls (46% vs 13%; OR 5.80).
- Both migraine without and with aura were significantly higher in subclinical hypothyroidism patients than controls.
- Thyroid hormones and concentrations of antibodies did not differ between subclinical hypothyroidism patients with and without migraine.
- Interestingly, a comorbidity for autoimmune diseases was observed in subclinical hypothyroidism patients with migraine in respect to those without migraine.
Rubino E, Rainero I, Garino F, et al. Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with migraine: A case-control study. Cephalalgia. 2019;39(1):15–20. doi:10.1177/0333102418769917.