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Published on: June 2, 2014
Relationship between white matter hyperintensity and atherogenic index of plasma in migraine
Gulhan Sarıcam1, Fahrettin Ege2, Memet Aslanyavrusu3
1Department of Neurology Clinic, Pursaklar State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are more commonly observed in patients with migraine compared to the general population; however, their pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), a vascular risk marker, and WMH in patients with migraine.
Methods:
This study included 274 patients diagnosed with migraine according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-III). The relationship between WMH and AIP in migraine patients was validated by Two-State Logistic Regression Analysis, and the cubic spline curve was used to determine linearity.
Results:
The mean age of the patients with migraine was 36.26 ± 8.37 years and 82.8% (n = 227) were female. The the prevalence of aura (p = 0.028), age (p = 0.001) and mean disease duration (p < 0.001, t=-4.257) were significantly higher in migraine patients with WMH than those without WMH. AIP (p < 0.001, t=-6.667), triglyceride (TG) (p < 0.001, t=-5.736) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.020, t=-2.344) were significantly higher in patients with WMH compared to those without WMH. A two-state regression analysis demonstrated a linear relationship between increased AIP (OR:7.101, 95% CI:3.417-14.174), TG (OR: 1.016, 95% CI: 1.005-2.023) and WHM in patients with migraine.
Conclusion:
In our study, we found positive correlation between WMH and AIP values in patients with migraine, and showed that AIP values were a statistically significant discriminator of WMH. Our results suggest that the AIP can be used as a cost-effective and significant marker for determining WMH in patients with migraine.
Insights
White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are linked to higher atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in migraine patients. Increased AIP is a significant marker for identifying WMH, offering a cost-effective diagnostic tool.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are frequently observed in migraine patients, yet their underlying causes are not fully understood.
- Migraine is associated with an increased prevalence of WMH compared to the general population, highlighting a potential link to cerebrovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), a marker of vascular risk, and the presence of WMH in individuals with migraine.
- To determine if AIP can serve as a predictive marker for WMH in migraineurs.
Main Methods:
- The study included 274 patients diagnosed with migraine according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-III).
- Two-state logistic regression analysis and cubic spline curves were employed to assess the relationship between WMH and AIP, examining linearity and significance.
Main Results:
- Patients with WMH exhibited significantly higher prevalence of aura, age, disease duration, AIP, triglycerides (TG), and body mass index (BMI).
- A two-state regression analysis revealed a significant linear relationship between elevated AIP (OR: 7.101) and WMH in migraine patients.
- Increased TG levels also showed a significant association with WMH (OR: 1.016).
Conclusions:
- A positive correlation was established between WMH and AIP values in the migraine patient cohort.
- AIP was identified as a statistically significant discriminator for WMH, suggesting its utility as a cost-effective marker for WMH detection in migraine patients.

