# Elevated Oxidative Stress in Patients with Coexisting Multiple Sclerosis and Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that people with both multiple sclerosis and migraines have higher oxidative stress than those with either condition alone.

## Contribution

This is the first study to compare oxidative stress markers in patients with MS, migraine, and both conditions.

## Key findings

- Patients with both MS and migraine had elevated oxidative stress markers like 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxy-nonenal.
- Those with both conditions showed reduced thiol groups and total antioxidant capacity compared to healthy controls.
- Coexisting MS and migraine result in greater oxidative stress than MS alone.

## Abstract

One potential association that is gaining increasing attention is the link between multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraine, which are suggested to frequently coexist in young patients. This is the first study to analyze the levels of multiple markers of oxidative stress in sociodemographically similar groups of patients with migraine, MS, and both MS and migraine. A single cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, Rzeszów University. The study included 110 participants, comprising 26 healthy controls, 24 subjects with migraines, 30 with MS, and 30 with both MS and migraine. Oxidative stress markers were measured in patients’ serum. Patients with MS and migraines had statistically elevated levels of 3-nitrotyrosine, Amadori products, 4-hydroxy-nonenal, and oxidative damage to amino acids. Moreover, we observed reduced levels of thiol groups and total antioxidant capacity in the serum of patients with MS and migraines compared to healthy controls. The co-occurrence of migraines in MS leads to greater oxidative stress than MS alone. The impact of chronic oxidative stress on both MS and migraines may exacerbate symptoms and deteriorate the quality of life.