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Migraine with Aura as a Stroke Mimic
Jeong-Jin Park1, Soo Jeong Kim2, Hahn Young Kim1
1Department of Neurology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
Migraine with aura is one of the causes of stroke mimics. We retrospectively reviewed the 10-year medical records of patients who were treated with acute stroke management protocol. We analyzed the frequency and characteristics of patients with a final diagnosis of migraine with aura. Among the 1355 patients with stroke mimics, migraine with aura was the final diagnosis in 36 patients (2.7%). The most common auras included sensory and brainstem auras followed by motor, visual, and speech/language auras. One patient manifested transient atrial fibrillation during the migraine attack, which can be a link with acute stroke.
Insights
Migraine with aura can mimic stroke symptoms, appearing in 2.7% of stroke mimic cases. Understanding aura characteristics is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate acute stroke management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Migraine with aura is recognized as a potential cause of stroke mimics.
- Accurate differentiation between migraine with aura and acute stroke is clinically significant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency and characteristics of migraine with aura among patients presenting with stroke mimics.
- To evaluate the diagnostic challenges posed by migraine with aura in acute stroke settings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 10-year medical records.
- Analysis of patients treated under an acute stroke management protocol.
- Identification of patients with a final diagnosis of migraine with aura.
Main Results:
- Migraine with aura was diagnosed in 36 out of 1355 (2.7%) patients with stroke mimics.
- Common aura types included sensory, brainstem, motor, visual, and speech/language auras.
- One case presented with transient atrial fibrillation during a migraine attack.
Conclusions:
- Migraine with aura represents a notable proportion of stroke mimic diagnoses.
- The varied presentation of auras necessitates careful clinical evaluation to avoid misdiagnosis.
- Potential links between migraine aura and cardiovascular events warrant further investigation.
