title: Trigger factors for familial hemiplegic migraine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to identify and describe migraine trigger factors in patients with familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) from a population-based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  127 FHM patients were sent a questionnaire listing 16 trigger factors. Distinction was made between attacks of hemiplegic migraine (HM) and migraine with aura (MA) or without aura (MO) within each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 59% (75/127) of whom 57 (76%) had current HM attacks. Sixty-three per cent (47/75) reported at least one factor triggering HM, and 36% (27/75) reported at least one factor that often or always caused HM. Twenty per cent (15/75) reported only HM, whereas FHM in combinations with MA and MO were reported by 80% (60/75). Stress (with attacks either following or during the stress), bright light, intense emotional influences and sleeping too much or too little were the trigger factors mentioned by most.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many FHM patients report trigger factors and one-third reported at least one trigger factor often or always triggering FHM. The typical triggers are the same as for MA. Patients should be educated to avoid these factors. The role of trigger factors in the onset of new or first attacks of FHM remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Nordre Ringvej 57, Glostrup, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jakob Møller
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Anne Werner
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hauge
authors.forename: Messoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashina
authors.forename: Jes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olesen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000235:genetics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; C105656:CACNA1A protein, human; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; C498531:ATP1A2 protein, human