title: Migrainous infarction: a Nordic multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Migrainous infarction (MI), i.e., an ischemic stroke developing during an attack of migraine with aura is rare and the knowledge of its clinical characteristics is limited. Previous case series using the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) included <10 cases which make conclusions less valid. This study aimed to describe characteristics and outcome of MI in a larger sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed demographic data, risk factors, migraine medication, stroke localization, symptoms, and outcome in a sample of 33 patients with MI according to second edition of the ICHD criteria collected from seven Nordic headache clinics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amongst 33 patients with MI, there were 20 (61%) women and 13 (39%) men with the median age for stroke of 39 (range 19-76) years. Traditional risk factors for stroke were rare compared with Scandinavian young ischemic stroke populations. During the acute phase, 12 (36%) patients used ergotamines or triptans. Stroke was located in the posterior circulation in 27 (82%) patients and cerebellum was involved in 7 (21%). Except in two patients with brainstem infarctions, the outcome was favorable with total recovery or limited residual symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of traditional risk factors was low and the infarctions were predominantly located in posterior circulation territory, supporting theories of migraine specific mechanisms. The outcome was in general favorable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Neurology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. mail:Katarina.Laurell@akademiska.se
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laurell
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Artto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bendtsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallela
authors.forename: E Laudon
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Putaala
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tronvik
authors.forename: J-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zwart
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linde
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult