Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Allowing Reperfusion via Common Carotid Artery Repair in Mice
Published on: January 23, 2019
The Link Between Migraine, Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome and Cervical Artery Dissection
Jérôme Mawet1, Stéphanie Debette2, Marie-Germaine Bousser3
1Emergency Headache Center, Department of Neurology, GH Saint-Louis-Lariboisière, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris APHP, Université Paris Denis Diderot and DHU NeuroVasc Sorbonne Paris-Cité, Paris, France (J. Mawet).
Insights
Migraine, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), and cervical artery dissection (CeAD) share links. Evidence suggests these headache disorders have common features and potential underlying mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Migraine, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), and cervical artery dissection (CeAD) are distinct neurological conditions.
- Headache is a primary symptom common to all three conditions, suggesting potential shared pathophysiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing evidence linking migraine, RCVS, and CeAD.
- To explore the potential common and complex underlying mechanisms connecting these disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological, clinical, and genetic data.
- Synthesis of evidence supporting an association between migraine, RCVS, and CeAD.
Main Results:
- Epidemiological, clinical, and genetic data indicate shared features among migraine, RCVS, and CeAD.
- These conditions appear to be linked, at least in part, suggesting a common underlying basis.
Conclusions:
- Migraine, RCVS, and CeAD, despite seeming different, share significant associations.
- Further research into the complex mechanisms underlying these linked headache disorders is warranted.
Abstract:
Headache is the common thread of migraine, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) and cervical artery dissection (CeAD), three medical conditions that otherwise appear to be very different. However, epidemiological, clinical and genetic data suggest that these conditions share common and complex features and are, at least partly, linked. The purpose of this manuscript is to review existing evidence for an association between migraine, RCVS and CeAD and discuss the potential underlying mechanisms.
