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Published on: June 2, 2014
Episodic Migraine and White Matter Hyperintensities: Association of Pain Lateralization
Ahmet Yalcin1, Mustafa Ceylan2, Omer Faruk Bayraktutan3
1Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan University, Erzincan, Turkey.
Background:
Migraine pathophysiology involves a neuronal mechanism that is closely associated with the neuronal activation of peripheral trigeminal nociceptive pathways. It also involves a vascular mechanism that is supported by studies concerning the presence of migraine with aura in various vascular diseases. Migraine is associated with silent infarct-like lesions and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) that can be encountered during magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the migraine-WMH link based on pain lateralization.
Methods:
We recruited 628 episodic migraine patients and examined their cranial magnetic resonance images regarding the presence of deep, subcortical, and periventricular WMHs. We sought to identify an association between lesion occurrence and pain side.
Results:
We found that the patients had more deep/subcortical hyperintensities in the cerebral hemisphere that was ipsilateral to the pain side (ƙ = 0.421). Periventricular hyperintensities were not associated with the pain side (P = 0.768).
Conclusions:
Based on our study results, we concluded that pain in episodic migraine is associated with the occurrence of WMHs in the cerebral hemispheres.
Insights
Episodic migraine patients with pain on one side of the head showed more white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on the same side of the brain. This suggests a link between migraine pain and WMH occurrence.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Vascular Neurology
Background:
- Migraine pathophysiology involves trigeminal pathways and vascular mechanisms.
- Migraine is linked to silent infarct-like lesions and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on MRI.
- Previous research suggests associations between migraine and vascular diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between episodic migraine and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs).
- To determine if WMH occurrence is associated with the laterality of migraine pain.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 628 episodic migraine patients.
- Examined cranial magnetic resonance images for deep, subcortical, and periventricular WMHs.
- Assessed the association between WMH occurrence and pain side.
Main Results:
- Patients exhibited more deep/subcortical WMHs in the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to the pain side (ƙ = 0.421).
- No significant association was found between periventricular WMHs and pain side (P = 0.768).
Conclusions:
- Episodic migraine pain is associated with WMH occurrence in the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere.
- Findings support a link between migraine pain lateralization and WMH presence.
