Familial migraine coma: a case study

A family suffering from a rare malignant type of migraine is described. The syndrome is characterized by episodes of coma with meningitic signs and fever and pareses as well as persistent cerebellar signs. Coma attacks last up to several days and can be precipitated by minor head trauma, vigorous work and angiography. From a study of this family and the literature, it is concluded that this syndrome has to be included in the differential diagnosis of coma and that angiography should be avoided in the patients.