The classical visual aura of migraine is characterized by a unilateral hallucination, composed of a zigzag fortification pattern followed by a trailing scotoma. This pattern usually starts in central vision, expands and spreads to the periphery, and then disappears. We review a number of historical attempts to explain the migraine aura in terms of brain events, then summarize recent theories of...

A case of migraine is presented with visual aura triggered on two separate occasions by glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Positron emission tomography was carried out during the second triggering session. Activation in the primary visual area of the occipital cortex was demonstrated during the aura. This is the first published case of migraine aura triggered reproducibly by GTN.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Migraine is a risk factor for clinical stroke and for subclinical white matter hyperintensities and infratentorial infarcts. These subclinical lesions are linked to small-vessel pathology. Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are another biomarker of small-vessel disease but have not yet been studied in migraine. METHODS Identification of CMBs in 63 migraineurs (25 with aura/35 ...

UNLABELLED Migraine is a central nervous system disorder frequently expressed with paroxysmal visual dysfunctions. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that normal visual input is vital for the migrainous aura and photophobia. METHOD We studied the migraine-related visual disturbances in 8 sightless migraineurs identified among 200 visually impaired subjects. RESULTS The main findings were th...

BACKGROUND It is known that exertion can aggravate migraine headache. However, the relationship between exertion and migraine aura is unknown. OBJECTIVE To study the relationship between exertion and migraine aura. DESIGN Case report. SETTING Tertiary care hospital. PATIENT A 67-year-old man presented with recurrent attacks of exertion-induced hemiplegic migraine. Since the hemiparetic ...

BACKGROUND Spreading depression of Leao has been hypothesized as the basis for the visual aura of the migraine attack, supported by cerebral blood flow measurements of spreading hypoperfusion. The early depolarizing or activation phase of experimental spreading depression, however, is associated with a transient but pronounced cerebral blood flow increase that precedes spreading hypoperfusion. ...

In contrast to patent foramen ovale that is highly prevalent in the general population, atrial septal defect (ASD) is a rare congenital heart defect. The effect of ASD closure on headache and migraine remains a matter of controversy. The objectives of our study were (1) to determine headache prevalence in consecutive patients with ASD scheduled for percutaneous closure for cardiologic indicatio...

OBJECTIVE To ascertain and characterize the point prevalence of dizziness or vertigo in migraineurs presenting for routine appointments at a specialty headache clinic. BACKGROUND Migraine, dizziness, and vertigo are all common in the general population, affecting 13%, 20-30%, and 5-10% respectively. Thereby, chance concurrence of migraine with either dizziness or vertigo would be expected in ...

Typical migraine aura is a short-lived sensory experience coming before or during migraine and experienced by about 1/4 of all migraineurs. The experience can be visual, sensory, or result in problems with speaking or word finding. Typical visual changes are seeing spots, zigzags or crescents, flashes of light, or losing sight partially or fully, with any one of these lasting between 5 minutes ...

OBJECTIVE Migraine with aura is a hallmark of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). In contrast with the majority of CADASIL patients, some affected subjects never experience visual symptoms during their attacks of migraine with aura. The aim of this study was to determine whether specific morphology of the primary visual cortex is...