title: Do interictal microembolic signals play a role in higher cortical dysfunction during migraine aura?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical impact of interictal microembolic signals (MES) in patients suffering from migraine with higher cortical dysfunction (HCD), such as language and memory impairment, during an aura.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out on 34 migraineurs with language and memory impairment during aura (HCD group), 31 migraineurs with only visual or visual and somatosensory symptoms during aura (Control group I), and 34 healthy controls (Control group II). We used a Doppler instrument to detect microemboli. Demographic data, disease features and the detection of MES between these groups, as well as the predictors of HCD during the aura, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration of aura was longer and the frequency of aura was higher among patients with language and memory impairment during aura compared to Control group I. MES was detected in 29.4% patients from the HCD group, which was significantly higher compared to 3.2% in Control group I and 5.9% in Control group II. Regarding the absence or presence of MES, demographic and aura features were not different in the HCD subgroups. A longer duration of aura, the presence of somatosensory symptoms during the aura and the presence of interictal MES were independent predictors of HCD during the aura.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings indicate that HCD and MES are related in patients with migraine with aura. Further research is needed to better understand the exact pathophysiological mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petrusic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Institute of Mental Health, Serbia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Podgorac
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia jzidverc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zidverc-Trajkovic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radojicic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jovanovic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sternic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000473:pathology*; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Higher cortical dysfunction; microembolic signals; migraine with aura