The Acid-Base Balance of the Blood in Migraine. ∗

Abstract

The present study was prompted by the findings of R. and S. Weissmann-Netter 1 who have made a series of observations on the carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood of patients with migraine. They found that the hydrogen ion concentration and the alkali reserve are normal in the periods of freedom from attacks but that a tendency to alkalosis develops 48 hours prior to an attack. They also reported that hyperventilation may result in an attack of migraine, probably through an excessive loss of carbon dioxide. As a result of the apparent success of controlling the migraine attacks by treatment with ketogenic diets, 2 it seemed desirable to reinvestigate the acid-base balance of the blood of individuals subject to migraine. To date 10 cases of migraine have been followed at intervals, the blood having been taken as early in the attack as possible, at the height of an attack, and immediately after cessation of the attack. It was found that the serum pH, CO₂ content, chloride and total base remained within normal limits, if one excepts 2 cases in which the pH was elevated slightly, due in all probability to the accompanying vomiting. It is probably of some significance that a fairly definite elevation of the blood cholesterol occurred in 50% of the cases.