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[Basilar migraine in children]
Insights
Basilar artery migraine in children can cause severe headaches and brain-stem related symptoms. This condition may involve basilar artery constriction or a steal effect during vasodilation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Basilar artery migraine (BAM) is a rare neurological condition.
- It is characterized by migraine attacks with aura symptoms originating from the brainstem.
- Diagnosis and management in pediatric populations require careful consideration.
Abstract:
The authors describe 3 children aged 12-15 years with severe basilar artery migraine. The follow-up was 2-3 years. In all cases attacks of throbbing headache occurred which showed varying intensity and lateralization in 2 cases. Only one child had always very strong right-sided headaches. The accompanying symptoms and signs were mostly from the area of vascularization of the basilar artery. In one child attacks of unconsciousness occurred additionally. The authors suggest that the symptoms and signs from brain-stem structures associated with attacks of headache may be due not only to construction of the basilar artery but may be due to a steal effect from certain regions of the brain stem in the phase of vasodilation, although the primary haemodynamic disturbance may not necessarily develop within the basilar artery system.