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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> High Cholesterol
        
(Message started by: mellie on Jul 28^th, 2004, 5:10pm)

Title: High Cholesterol
Post by mellie on Jul 28^th, 2004, 5:10pm

I went back to the doc the other day and they did blood work--just wondering if anyone else has high cholesterol and could it be linked to CH or if the meds could cause that? Just wondering......

Title: Re: High Cholesterol
Post by eyes_afire on Jul 28^th, 2004, 7:03pm

I don't think so. I have extremely low cholesterol... often times it gets flagged as being low on my blood paperwork. I'm actually embarassed to say how low it is sometimes. :-[

--- Steve

Title: Re: High Cholesterol
Post by floridian on Jul 28^th, 2004, 10:28pm

My good cholesterol is low. My bad cholesterol is ok. My triglycerides were high, but I changed my diet and they came back in line.

Not much research on HDL/LDL and clusters. Only one article I am aware of (below) and it found normal cholesterol (in cell membranes, not blood) but unusually high phosphatidylcholine. So yes, something is messed up in the typical clusterhead with respect to the lipid goop, but AFAIK, it isnt plain old elevated cholesterol. On the other hand, they might someday find that some of us do have a metabolic problem that contributes to both cholesterol and clusters.

Quote:

Cephalalgia. 1986 Sep;6(3):147-53.

Abnormal membrane composition and membrane-dependent transduction mechanisms in cluster headache.

de Belleroche J, Kilfeather S, Das I, Rose FC.

Previous studies have indicated that membrane structure and function may be abnormal in cluster headache. This has been further investigated by analysis of membrane phosphatidylcholine, total phospholipids, and cholesterol in erythrocytes and by assay of receptor-mediated transduction. The stimulation of lymphocyte adenylate cyclase with isoprenaline and prostacyclin was used as the test system. A significant increase in the ratio of membrane phosphatidylcholine to cholesterol without change in cholesterol was found in cluster headache patients as compared with control subjects. This indicated a reduced turnover of phosphatidylcholine, since erythrocyte choline is significantly reduced in this condition. Abnormal membrane function was also indicated from the significant depression of high-affinity prostaglandin receptor stimulation of lymphocyte adenylate cyclase and the similar trend in the beta-adrenoceptor response. Since no change in agonist affinity and beta-adrenoceptor density occurred, this depression indicates a generalized defect in coupling of receptors to adenylate cyclase. It is hypothesized that the impaired function that would result might contribute to the aetiology of cluster headache.

Are you familiar with policosanol? While diet should be the first line against cholesterol for most people, policosanol is as effective as the statins, but has fewer side effects.

Title: Re: High Cholesterol
Post by mellie on Jul 29^th, 2004, 2:59pm

Thanks ya'll ;)