title: Transcranial Doppler sonography in familial hemiplegic migraine.
abstract: A patient affected by familial hemiplegic migraine underwent Transcranial Doppler Sonography twice: the first during a spontaneous attack with right hemiparesis and aphasia, the second during a headache-free period. During the attack the following haemodynamic changes were seen: (a) bilateral increase in the middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery blood flow velocities (this increase was more pronounced on the left side), (b) decreased systo-diastolic ratio and pulsatility index on the right side, (c) increased systo-diastolic ratio and pulsatility index on the left side. Our results indicate that during the attack in this familial hemiplegic migraine patient a diffuse vasoconstriction of the basal cerebral arteries developed. Moreover, Transcranial Doppler Sonography data suggest that a prolonged vasoconstriction of the peripheral arterioles could play a role in determining the neurological symptoms in this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica delle Malattie Nervose e Mentali, Università La Sapienza Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pauri
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cupini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiermonte
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rizzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004453:Echoencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*