title: Prevalence of atrial septal aneurysm in patients with migraine: an echocardiographic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of atrial septal aneurysm in patients with migraine.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Migraine has long been considered a risk factor for stroke. Atrial septal aneurysm is often observed in young patients with ischemic stroke and is frequently associated with other conditions potentially leading to embolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a transthoracic echocardiogram in 90 consecutive patients (65 women and 25 men; mean age, 35.3 years [standard deviation, 9]) with migraine but free from cerebral and cardiovascular disease and in 53 control subjects (37 women and 16 men; mean age, 34 years [standard deviation, 10]). The diagnosis of atrial septal aneurysm was performed according to Olivares-Reyes criteria. A transesophageal echocardiogram also was performed in 75 patients with migraine (83.3%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of isolated atrial septal aneurysm was higher in patients with migraine with aura (28.5%) than in patients with migraine without aura (3.6%) (P <.005) or in control subjects (1.9%) (P <.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest a role of atrial septal aneurysm in the genesis of aura in patients with migraine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Messina, Via Campo delle Vettovaglie 10, 98122 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carerj
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Narbone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coglitore
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pugliatti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luzza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arrigo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oreto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence