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Basilar artery migraine. A review of 30 cases

Insights

Basilar artery migraine, a variant affecting children, involves transient neurological issues and headaches. Most patients had a family history, with attacks potentially worsening with age.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Basilar artery migraine is a rare migraine variant.
  • It primarily affects children and adolescents.
  • Characterized by transient neurological symptoms originating from the vertebrobasilar system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical characteristics and familial aggregation of basilar artery migraine.
  • To evaluate the long-term outcomes in a cohort of affected children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective follow-up study of 30 patients diagnosed with basilar artery migraine.
  • Data collected included age of onset, attack characteristics, family history, and neurological outcomes.
  • Follow-up duration ranged from six months to three years.

Main Results:

  • The mean age of onset was 7 years.
  • Recurrent transient neurological disturbances localized to the vertebrobasilar arterial tree were observed.
  • Pulsatile headaches (cephalalgia) were a common feature.
  • A significant family history of migraine (86%) was noted, predominantly on the maternal side and in females.
  • Older age of onset correlated with more severe attacks.
  • Only one patient experienced permanent neurological deficits.

Conclusions:

  • Basilar artery migraine is a distinct migraine variant with a strong familial component.
  • It typically presents in childhood with transient neurological symptoms and headaches.
  • The prognosis is generally favorable, with a low risk of permanent neurological sequelae.

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