Migraine in cervical artery dissection and ischemic stroke patients.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Several small to medium-sized studies indicated a link between cervical artery dissection (CeAD) and migraine. Migrainous CeAD patients were suggested to have different clinical characteristics compared to nonmigraine CeAD patients. We tested these hypotheses in the large Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients (CADISP) population.
METHODS
A total of 968 CeAD patients and 653 patients with an ischemic stroke of a cause other than CeAD (non-CeAD IS) were recruited. CeAD patients with stroke (CeAD(stroke), n = 635) were compared with non-CeAD IS patients regarding migraine, clinical characteristics, and outcome. CeAD patients with and without migraine were compared in terms of clinical characteristics and outcome.
RESULTS
Migraine was more common among CeAD(stroke) patients compared to non-CeAD IS patients (35.7 vs 27.4%, p = 0.003). The difference was mainly due to migraine without aura (20.2 vs 11.2%, p < 0.001). There were no differences in prevalence of strokes, arterial distribution, or other clinical or prognostic features between migrainous and nonmigrainous CeAD patients.
CONCLUSION
Migraine without aura is more common among CeAD(stroke) patients compared to non-CeAD IS patients. The mechanisms and possible causative link remain to be proved. Although CeAD is often complicated by stroke, our data do not support increased risk of stroke in migrainous CeAD patients.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Metso TM, Tatlisumak T, Debette S, Dallongeville J, Engelter ST, Lyrer PA, Thijs V, Bersano A, Abboud S, Leys D, Grond-Ginsbach C, Kloss M, Touzé E, Pezzini A, Metso AJ, CADISP group

Institution

Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. tiina.m.metso@helsinki.fi

Source

Neurology 78:16 2012 Apr 17 pg 1221-8

MeSH

Adult
Brain Ischemia
Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Migraine Disorders
Prevalence
Prognosis
Risk Factors
Stroke
Vertebral Artery Dissection

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Multicenter Study

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22491867