title: Migraine and patent foramen ovale: exploring the association and a possible treatment option.
abstract: Migraine is a very common type of headache. With a prevalence of 10-12%, migraine ranks 19th among diseases causing worldwide morbidity. Number of studies have shown a high prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with migraine, especially migraine with aura. The right to left shunting of blood in a PFO could serve as a conduit for chemicals that would exert a trigger effect on hyper excitable neurons leading to the development of migraine. Furthermore patients with PFO and migraine also show a marked improvement in their symptoms after percutaneous closure of the PFO. This review is a close look at this association and also explores whether subsequent closure of the shunt can be looked upon as a viable treatment option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammed Yaser
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hasan
mesh_terms: D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors