Migraine with aura is a risk factor for unprovoked seizures in children.
OBJECTIVE
Migraine is associated with epilepsy, but the time order and nature of the relationship are unclear. We conducted a population based case control study to clarify the time order to determine whether migraine is a risk factor for epilepsy.


METHODS
Migraine symptoms were evaluated in a population-based case-control study of all incident epilepsy in Icelandic children and in matched controls (next two same sex births in the country).


RESULTS
Migraine was associated with a fourfold increased risk for developing epilepsy, an association explained by migraine with aura (odds ratio, 8.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.7-24.3). Migraine without aura did not increase risk for epilepsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with migraine with aura have a substantial increased risk to develop subsequent epilepsy. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that migraine with aura and migraine without aura may be different disorders.
Ludvigsson
Petur
P
Department of Pediatrics, Landspitalinn University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Hesdorffer
Dale
D
Olafsson
Elias
E
Kjartansson
Olafur
O
Hauser
W Allen
WA
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors