An Evaluation of White Matter Intensities in Patients with Pediatric Migraine
Burak Gülcen1, Hilal Aydın2, Erdoğan Bülbül3
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Balıkesir University, 10145 Balıkesir, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric migraine patients show significantly more white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on brain MRI scans compared to healthy children. These findings suggest migraine impacts brain structure beyond pain.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Migraine is a complex neurological disorder with potential effects on brain structure.
- White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are common findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and can indicate underlying pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence and characteristics of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in pediatric migraine patients.
- To investigate the relationship between WMHs and migraine attack profiles.
- To elucidate the potential pathophysiological implications of WMHs in pediatric migraine.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of MRI scans from 30 pediatric migraine patients and 28 healthy controls.
- Evaluation of WMH presence, number, location, and volume.
- Correlation analysis between WMHs and migraine attack duration/frequency.
Main Results:
- WMHs were significantly more prevalent in pediatric migraine patients (60%) compared to controls (28.6%) (p = 0.016).
- No significant relationship was found between WMH presence and migraine attack duration or frequency.
- No significant difference in WMH volume was observed between the migraine and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Migraine in children is associated with increased white matter hyperintensities, indicating neurological effects beyond pain.
- These findings highlight the impact of migraine on cerebral structures and may inform future therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
Background and Objectives: This study aims to assess white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in pediatric migraine patients and to elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients diagnosed with migraine and 28 healthy individuals undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for various reasons in our hospital between September 2019 and April 2023 were included in the study. We evaluated the presence, number, locations, and volumetric measurement of WMHs and the relationship between hyperintensity and attack profiles in migraine patients. Results: WMHs were observed at MRI in 18 (60%) of the 30 migraine patients and in 8 (28.6%) of the 28 controls. One hyperintense lesion was detected in nine members of the patient group, two in six patients, five in one patient, eight in one patient and nine in one. One hyperintense lesion was detected in eight healthy control group members. WMHs were significantly more common in the migraine patients than in the control group (p = 0.016). There was no significant relationship between hyperintensity in migraine patients and attack duration or frequency. Analysis also revealed no significant difference in terms of hyperintensity volumes (mm3) between the study group (19.73 ± 24.26) and the control group (5.62 ± 1.83). Conclusions: This study set out to show that migraine exerts neurological effects that are not solely limited to pain by emphasizing the pronounced differences observed on the brain MRIs of migraine patients. These findings may help us achieve a better understanding of the effects of migraine on cerebral structures and functions and identify therapeutic strategies in the future.
