title: Vascular headache: a presenting symptom of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Vascular headache of migraine-type may be a presenting symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition usually not considered in the differential diagnosis of a severe headache accompanied by neurological signs. We reviewed records of 1,113 patients with MS seen from 1967-1987 and found 44 cases whose initial attack or subsequent exacerbations were heralded by a migraine-type headache. Twenty-seven patients had no prior history of migraine, and of these, 12 presented simultaneously with their first headache and MS attack. Twenty-three patients had symptoms of a posterior fossa mass lesion. The significance of these results and possible pathogenesis is discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Department of Neurology, St. Michael's Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology