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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Changes in functional vasomotor reactivity in migraine with aura
1Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Department of Neurology, Mannheim 68167, Germany. wolf@neuro.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|June 30, 2009
Summary
Migraine with aura patients show abnormal blood flow regulation between attacks. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) can detect these persistent vasomotor changes, aiding in monitoring treatment effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Vascular Physiology
Background:
- Migraine with aura (MA) is linked to altered cerebral blood flow, including hyperperfusion and hypoperfusion.
- Previous attempts to assess perfusion changes and asymmetries in MA patients using transcranial Doppler (TCD) have yielded inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate interictal functional vasomotor reactivity (fVMR) in patients with migraine with aura (MA).
- To evaluate the potential of TCD-derived fVMR as a monitoring tool for prophylactic medication in MA.
Main Methods:
- Prospective analysis of interictal TCD recordings in 70 MA patients and 40 controls (migraine without aura or healthy).
- Semiautomated formal curve analysis of the visually evoked flow response (VEFR).
- Calculation of visually evoked flow rate (VEFR%) as the primary parameter for fVMR.
Main Results:
- MA patients exhibited a significantly higher mean VEFR% difference (14.7 ± 12%) compared to controls (5.8 ± 4.4%, P < 0.001).
- A significant asymmetry in fVMR was observed in MA patients, suggesting persistent interictal vasomotor alterations.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that altered fVMR in MA patients may reflect persistent interattack vasomotor changes.
- TCD-based fVMR assessment could serve as a valuable tool for monitoring the efficacy of prophylactic treatments in MA.
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