Summary
| Direction in Migraine | ↕ Inconsistent — reported as both higher and lower across studies, with no consistent direction |
|---|---|
| Category | Inflammatory |
| Compared against | non-migraineurs |
| Associated symptoms | migraine without aura (MO) in women aged 19-34 years had borderline higher CRP; women aged 60-81 years with MO had significantly lower CRP |
| Source | Gudmundsson et al. 2009 — doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2009.01865.x |
| Condition atlas | Migraine Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where High-Sensitivity CRP is reported
- High-Sensitivity CRP in Hypertension — ↑ elevated vs hypertensive participants without Apparent Treatment-Resistant Hypertension
See the cross-condition hub: High-Sensitivity CRP across conditions.
Related Inflammatory markers in Migraine
- Glutamate ↑
- Homocysteine ↑
- Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) ↑
- Interleukin-6 ↑
- 25-Hydroxyvitamin D ↓
- Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) ↕
- Nitric Oxide Metabolites ↑
- Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38) ↕
Full list: Migraine Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is High-Sensitivity CRP high or low in Migraine?
Mixed. Some studies report higher and others lower High-Sensitivity CRP in Migraine compared with non-migraineurs, so no single direction is established. Source: Gudmundsson et al. 2009.
What symptoms is High-Sensitivity CRP associated with in Migraine?
The cited literature associates this marker with migraine without aura (MO) in women aged 19-34 years had borderline higher CRP; women aged 60-81 years with MO had significantly lower CRP. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures High-Sensitivity CRP?
The atlas record does not list a standardised clinical test code (LOINC) for High-Sensitivity CRP, which usually means it was measured with research assays or study-specific protocols rather than a routine clinical panel. Check the cited source for the exact method.
Is one abnormal High-Sensitivity CRP result diagnostic of Migraine?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Migraine. High-Sensitivity CRP findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is High-Sensitivity CRP specific to Migraine?
No. The same marker is also reported in Hypertension in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Page generated from migraine.json · Browse: Migraine atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.