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Published on: June 2, 2014
Migraine attacks, aura, and polycythemia: a vasculoneural pathogenesis?
Michelangelo Stanzani Maserati1
1Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, via Ugo Foscolo no. 7, 40123, Bologna, Italy. michelangelo.sm@libero.it
Headache is a common polycythemia symptom. This case study shows polycythemia vera patients may experience aura headaches linked to high blood counts, suggesting a vascular and nerve-related cause.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Hematology
Background:
- Headache is a frequent symptom reported in patients with polycythemia.
- Polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by elevated red blood cell mass.
Observation:
- A case study involving a polycythemia vera patient with a history of migraines (with and without aura) is presented.
- The patient developed new-onset headache attacks with aura.
Findings:
- These headache attacks correlated with elevated hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.
- The findings suggest a potential link between polycythemia and the occurrence of aura headaches.
Implications:
- A vasculoneural pathogenesis is proposed for these specific headache attacks.
- Understanding this association may aid in managing headache symptoms in polycythemia vera patients.
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