History of migraine and the risk of spontaneous cervical artery dissection.
The pathophysiology of spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) is largely unknown. An association with migraine has been suggested, but not definitively proven. In the setting of a hospital-based prospective case-control study we assessed personal and family history of migraine in 72 patients with sCAD, 72 patients with cerebral infarct unrelated to a CAD (non-CAD) and 72 control subjects. Personal history of migraine was significantly associated to sCAD compared to non-CAD (59.7% vs. 30.6%; OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.41-7.01) and controls (18.1%; OR 7.41; 95% CI 3.11-17.64). As opposed to migraine with aura, migraine without aura was significantly more frequent among sCAD than among non-CAD (56.9% vs. 25.0%; OR 3.91; 95% CI 1.71-8.90) and controls (12.5%; OR 9.84; 95% CI 3.85-25.16). Similar results were observed when the frequencies of family history of migraine were compared. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that migraine may represent a predisposing condition for sCAD.
Pezzini
A
A
Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy. ale_pezzini@hotmail.com
Granella
F
F
Grassi
M
M
Bertolino
C
C
Del Zotto
E
E
Immovilli
P
P
Bazzoli
E
E
Padovani
A
A
Zanferrari
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications*; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology