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Adrenergic supersensitivity of the pupil in idiopathic headache

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Summary

In idiopathic headache (IH) sufferers, phenylephrine and fenfluramine induce a pupillary dilatation respectively greater and lesser than in controls. The difference may be due to a supersensitivity of the iris alpha adrenoceptors caused by a deficiency of noradrenaline in the iris adrenergic nerve terminal of the IH sufferer. These findings seem to support the hypothesis of a brain receptorial, monoamine supersensitivity in IH.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Headache Centre, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134, Firenze, Italy

    M. Fanciullacci, P. Galli, U. Pietrini & F. Sicuteri

Authors
  1. M. Fanciullacci
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  2. P. Galli
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  3. U. Pietrini
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  4. F. Sicuteri
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Additional information

This study was supported by a grant from the National Research Council, Rome, Italy.

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Fanciullacci, M., Galli, P., Pietrini, U. et al. Adrenergic supersensitivity of the pupil in idiopathic headache. Experientia 33, 1082–1083 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01945983

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01945983

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