Interictal Serum Uric Acid, Albumin, and Uric Acid-to-Albumin Ratio in Episodic Migraine: A Case–Control Study and Association with Disease Burden

Oxidative stress and systemic inflammation are increasingly recognized as key mechanisms in migraine pathophysiology. Uric acid (UA) and albumin (ALB) contribute to redox and inflammatory balance, and their ratio (UAR) has been proposed as a combined biomarker of these processes. This study evaluated serum UA, ALB, and UAR levels in patients with episodic migraine during the interictal period and examined their associations with clinical features and migraine-related disability. In this retrospective case–control study, 120 patients with episodic migraine and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Serum UA and ALB were measured, and UAR was calculated as UA (mg/dL)/ALB (g/dL). Demographic and laboratory variables were compared between groups. In the migraine group, correlations between biochemical markers and clinical variables, including pain intensity (VAS), migraine-related disability (MIDAS), attack frequency, and aura status, were analyzed. Serum UA and UAR levels were significantly lower in migraine patients than in controls (both p<0.001), whereas ALB levels were similar. UA, ALB, and UAR were not correlated with attack frequency, pain intensity, MIDAS scores, or aura status. Lower UA and UAR levels in episodic migraine may reflect reduced systemic antioxidant capacity. However, the absence of associations with clinical severity suggests that oxidative imbalance may not directly represent migraine burden. UAR may serve as a biochemical indicator of oxidative and inflammatory processes in migraine. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify its clinical relevance.