Limitations of the migraine hypoxia model
Despite having strong advantages over the leading pharmacologically
induced model, the hypoxia-induced models may not fully replicate the
complex and multifactorial nature of migraine attacks. Migraine is a
heterogeneous disorder with various triggers and individual variations,
which may not be fully captured in experimental settings. Furthermore,
it is challenging to directly translate findings from hypoxia models to
clinical practice. The severity, duration, and frequency of
hypoxia-induced migraine-like symptoms may differ from those experienced
during spontaneous migraine attacks. Moreover, hypoxia models may not
fully capture the contributions of other key mechanisms involved in
migraine, such as genetic factors, cortical excitability, or
neuroinflammatory processes. These aspects require further investigation
using complementary approaches, including genetic studies, advanced
neuroimaging techniques, and animal models. Overall, experimental
hypoxia models provide valuable insights into specific aspects of
migraine pathophysiology, they should be interpreted in the context of
the broader understanding of the disease and its multifaceted nature.