Abstract:To investigate the relationship between neuropeptide Y and migraine, the plasma levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY) of 36 patients with migraine without aura during attacks and free periods were determined with radioimmunoassay method. The results showed that during the migraine attacks the levels of NPY of patients were increased compared with the free periods ( P <0.001). It was also found that the plasma levels of NPY of the patients with family history was obviously higher than the patients without family history ( P <0.01). There were no significant difference in the levels of NPY between male and female patients, and between the patients with various degree of headache. The results suggested that NPY may contribute to the pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine attacks.