CADASIL: Migraine, Encephalopathy, Stroke and Their Inter-Relationships.
BACKGROUND
Migraine is common in Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) but its treatment responses are not well described, and its relationship to stroke risk unknown. Encephalopathy is a less common presentation; it has been suggested it is related to migraine. We characterised migraine patterns and treatment responses in CADASIL, and examined associations between migraine and both stroke risk and encephalopathy.


METHODS
300 symptomatic CADASIL patients were prospectively recruited from a national referral clinic over a nineteen year period, from 1996 to 2015. Data was collected using a standardised questionnaire. Migraine was classified according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version). A cross-sectional analysis was carried out on the data collected.


RESULTS
Migraine was present in 226 (75.3%), and the presenting feature in 203 (67.7%). It was usually accompanied by aura (89.8%). Patients showed variable responses to a variety of drugs for migraine. Of 24 given triptans, 45.5% had consistent or partial responses. None had complications following triptans. Thirty-three (11.0%) patients experienced encephalopathy lasting on average 8.1 ± 3.4 days. Patients with migraine with aura had higher odds of encephalopathy (OR = 5.4; 95%CI 1.6-28.4; p = 0.002). Patients with confusional aura had higher odds of encephalopathy than those with other aura types (OR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.0-5.8, p = 0.04). There was also no increase in risk of encephalopathy with sex or age at onset of migraine. Migraineurs had a lower stroke risk than non-migraineurs (HR = 0.46, 95%CI 0.3-0.6, p = 2.1x10-6).


CONCLUSIONS
Migraine with aura is a prominent feature of CADASIL. Treatment responses are similar to those seen in the general migraine population and no complications were observed with triptans. Migraine with aura was associated with increased risk of encephalopathy suggesting they may share pathophysiological mechanisms. There was no increased stroke risk associated with migraine, but risk appeared to be reduced although this finding needs confirming.
Stroke Research Group, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Rhea Yan Ying
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4056-9205
RY
Tan
Stroke Research Group, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Hugh Stephen
HS
Markus
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D046589:CADASIL / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003061:Codeine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000700:Analgesics; D014363:Tryptamines; D000082:Acetaminophen; D003061:Codeine