title: Migraine is not associated with enhanced atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Migraine, in particular with aura, has been associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease. The underlying mechanism is unknown. In a cross-sectional case control study we investigated whether an enhanced risk of atherosclerosis in migraineurs explains this increased cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were participants from the population-based Erasmus Rucphen Family study. Atherosclerosis was assessed in 360 migraineurs (209 without aura and 151 with aura) and 617 subjects without migraine or severe headache. Atherosclerosis was quantified by intima media thickness, pulse wave velocity and ankle-brachial index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Migraineurs, especially with aura, were found more likely to smoke, have diabetes or a modestly decreased HDL-cholesterol. No differences were found for the atherosclerosis parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this large population-based study, migraineurs have no increased risk of atherosclerosis. Therefore, enhanced atherosclerosis is an unlikely explanation for the increased cardiovascular risk seen in migraineurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anine H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Stam
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: A Cecile Jw
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: Yurii S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Aulchenko
authors.forename: Ben A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Oostra
authors.forename: Rune R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Frants
authors.forename: Arn Mjm
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van den Maagdenberg
authors.forename: Michel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Cornelia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Duijn
authors.forename: Gisela M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Terwindt
mesh_terms: D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis