Research Tracker›Biomarker Atlas›Migraine›Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38)

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38) in Migraine

In Migraine, the direction of change for Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38) is inconsistent across studies that used migraine patients (ictal jugular blood) as the reference group. The source does not tie this marker to a specific symptom cluster, so it is best read as a biological signal rather than a symptom predictor. The evidence summarised here comes from Riesco et al. 2017 and reflects averages across cohorts rather than any single patient's result.

↕ InconsistentOther

Summary

Direction in Migraine↕ Inconsistent — reported as both higher and lower across studies, with no consistent direction
CategoryOther
Compared againstmigraine patients (ictal jugular blood)
SourceRiesco et al. 2017 — doi:10.1007/s11916-017-0618-8
Condition atlasMigraine Biomarker Atlas

Related Other markers in Migraine

Full list: Migraine Biomarker Atlas.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38) high or low in Migraine?

Mixed. Some studies report higher and others lower Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38) in Migraine compared with migraine patients (ictal jugular blood), so no single direction is established. Source: Riesco et al. 2017.

Which test measures Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38)?

The atlas record does not list a standardised clinical test code (LOINC) for Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38), 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 Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38) result diagnostic of Migraine?

No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Migraine. Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38) 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.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. (2026). Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP-38) in Migraine: direction, evidence and what it means. OSMF Research Tracker. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://research.opensourcemed.info/biomarkers/migraine/pituitary-adenylate-cyclase-activating-polypeptide-pacap-38.html
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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.