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.