Late-life migraine accompaniments: a case presentation and literature review

Migraine headaches that occur in the 15- to 30-year-old age group are well documented. In patients in the stroke age bracket, however, who present with a history of neurologic deficit, transient ischemic attacks can be confused with migraine accompaniments. The typical patient is 50 years old, is without a past history of migraines, and complains of scintillating visual disturbances (20 percent), marching paresthesis (22 percent), or a myriad of neurologic deficits. In one series of 70 neurology patients aged over 55 years, 16 percent reported that they experience the new onset of scintillations. Once fully evaluated, the cause of unexplained marching paresthesias, dysphagia, or hemiplegia, once reserved for thrombotic or embolic phenomena, may be attributed to migraine accompaniments. In the face of a normal evaluation, neurologic deficit in the stroke age bracket may be attributed to migraine accompaniments. A case of a 47-year-old woman with sudden onset of left-sided paresthesia, dysarthria, and confusion is presented. The discussion includes a description of migraine pathophysiology and a review of concepts regarding accompaniments.