Migraine and epilepsy: clinical and pathophysiological relations.
Migraine and epilepsy are both chronic disorders characterised by recurrent neurological attacks, with a partial clinical and therapeutic overlap and frequently occurring together. Although still incompletely clarified, the possible existence of a link between migraine and epilepsy has long been debated. In this paper the epidemiologic evidence of migraine and epilepsy comorbidity, the possible occurrence of both disturbances in close temporal association, possible shared physiopathologic mechanisms and the rationale for antiepileptic drug use in migraine prophylaxis will be discussed.
De Simone
R
R
Headache Centre, Neurological Sciences Department, University Federico II of Naples, Via Pansini 5, I-80131 Naples, Italy. rodesimo@unina.it
Ranieri
A
A
Marano
E
E
Beneduce
L
L
Ripa
P
P
Bilo
L
L
Meo
R
R
Bonavita
V
V
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors
D000927:Anticonvulsants