Migraine mechanism and management

Egilius L Spierings1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Migraine affects an estimated 10% to 15% of the population with greater or lesser regularity and throughout much of their lifetime. It causes disability, be it often temporary, and strains personal relationships and professional development. Little is known about it scientifically, and its treatment remains mostly empirical. This article describes the pathogenesis of migraine, as well as its management in terms of abortive and preventive treatment.

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