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Published on: June 2, 2014
Trigger factors for familial hemiplegic migraine.
Jakob Møller Hansen1, Anne Werner Hauge, Messoud Ashina
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Nordre Ringvej 57, Glostrup, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Many familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) patients report migraine triggers, with stress and light being common. One-third of FHM patients experience triggers that often or always cause attacks, similar to migraine with aura triggers.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) is a rare subtype of migraine with aura.
- Understanding FHM triggers is crucial for patient management and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize migraine trigger factors in a population-based sample of FHM patients.
- To differentiate triggers for hemiplegic migraine (HM) attacks versus migraine with aura (MA) or without aura (MO) within FHM patients.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire detailing 16 potential trigger factors was administered to 127 FHM patients.
- Patients distinguished between HM, MA, and MO attacks in relation to reported triggers.
Main Results:
- The study achieved a 59% response rate (75/127), with 76% (57/75) experiencing current HM attacks.
- 63% (47/75) reported at least one trigger for HM, and 36% (27/75) identified triggers that frequently or always induced attacks.
- Common triggers included stress, bright light, emotional influences, and sleep disturbances; these align with typical MA triggers.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of FHM patients identify trigger factors for their attacks.
- One-third of FHM patients report consistent triggers, which are similar to those for MA.
- Patient education on avoiding identified triggers is recommended, though the role of triggers in initial FHM attacks requires further investigation.
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