Transformation into daily migraine with aura following transcutaneous atrial septal defect closure

A link between migraine with aura and cardiac right-to-left shunting has been previously reported. Abortion or decreased frequency of migraine with aura attacks after atrial septal defect closure has been reported in the literature. We report the first case of transformation of migraine with aura into a daily pattern after atrial septal defect closure. A 48-year-old male who had been suffering from rather infrequent attacks of migraine with sensory and visual aura underwent transcutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect. His migraine attacks changed into a daily pattern the day following the procedure and remained so for 6 months. This change in pattern may be related to a changed intra-atrial pressure after the closure or some other unknown factor.