Top migraine Articles in Neurology

Topiramate in migraine progression
The Journal of Headache and Pain, 10/21/2009

Ruiz L et al. – Increasing evidence shows that migraine, typically considered as an episodic disease, is a chronic and, in some patients, progressive disorder. Among neuromodulators used for migraine prevention, topiramate has a high level of evidence&ndash ... efficacy. Recent evidence suggests that topiramate, by reducing migraine frequency and use of acute medication, may prevent the negative progression of migraine. Furthermore, two recently completed multicenter, randomised, placebo–controlled trials have shown that treatment with topiramate 100 ... chronic migraine and difficult to treat conditions associated with medication–overuse. Topiramate seems to be a preventive treatment, which might be able to act at different levels of the migraine cycle: reduction of frequency in episodic migraine, prevention, and treatment of chronic migraine ... neurology,clinical pharmacology,pain medicine,headache,pain management,migraine/headache,pharmacy,family medicine,internal medicine [more...]

Normal Cortical Energy Metabolism in Migrainous Stroke. A 31P-MR Spectroscopy Study
Stroke, 10/20/2009

Schulz UG et al. – The differences in cortical energy reserves between patients with migrainous stroke and in those with migraine with persistent aura suggest that the pathomechanisms of these conditions differ and that migrainous infarction ... does not simply represent a particularly severe form of migrainous aura. This finding supports the revised International Headache Society criteria, which now distinguish between migrainous infarction and migraine with persistent aura without infarction. [more...]

Aura migraines : Aura migraines double stroke risk
Internet Source, 11/02/2009

Migraine doubles the chance of a stroke if accompanied by aura, says a new study. Further risk factors for stroke among patients with migraine are being a woman, being young, being a smoker, and using oestrogen containing contraceptives. Up to one ... third of migraine sufferers experience an aura prior to or during a migraine headache. They found that migraine with aura is linked to a twofold increased risk of ischemic stroke. This risk is further increased by being female, age less than 45 years, smoking, and oestrogen containing contraceptive ... migraine/headache [more...]

CSD, BBB and MMP-9 elevations: animal experiments versus clinical phenomena in migraine
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 11/12/2009

Gupta VK – Cortical spreading depression (CSD) has been at the center stage of migraine pathophysiology for approximately six decades. Reanalysis of CSD reveals several major unbridgeable gaps in this experimental neurophysiologic concept for migraine. Key phenotypic ... migraine challenge the assumed pathophysiologic role of CSD. Detection of subclinical infarct–like white matter lesions (WMLs) in the brain of some migraine patients stimulated the concept of CSD–related BBB disruption. Raised plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in migraine ... both migraine attacks and WMLs. Migraine attacks with or without aura present a unique, profound and protracted vasodilatory challenge to the homeostatic systems of the brain. [more...]

Migraine Chronification - Concept and Risk Factors
Discovery Medicine, 10/27/2009

Bigal M – Migraine is a chronic disease with episodic attacks and a variable prognosis. In a subgroup, migraine evolves into a more protracted condition (migraine transformation or progression). Transformation of migraine may be subdivided ... into three partially overlapping forms. Clinical transformation describes the evolution from episodic into chronic migraine. Physiological transformation refers to alterations in nociceptive thresholds and in pain pathways that precede or accompany clinical transformation. Anatomical transformation ... migraineurs. Herein the author conceptualize migraine as a progressive disease and discuss risk factors for transformation. [more...]

New drugs for migraine
The Journal of Headache and Pain, 10/05/2009

Stovner LJ et al. – After the triptans, a calcitonin gene–related peptide blocker (telcagepant) is the first acute medicine that has been developed primarily for treatment of acute migraine. Otherwise, the new drugs have been developed first for other purposes ... anticonvulsants, antihypertensives and antidepressants used for migraine prophylaxis. For acute attacks, a new way to administer a traditional drug like dihydroergotamine is under way, and documentation of efficacy in migraine has been gained for some commonly used painkillers and anti&ndash ... new migraine drugs based on knowledge of the pathophysiology if one wishes to reduce substantially the great burden migraine poses on patients and society. [more...]

Controversies in migraine
Nurse Prescribing, 10/09/2009

Anthony A – Migraine is a prevalent disorder that is frequently the subject of media attention and scientific controversy. Making sense of the data can be a challenge for nurses. This article looks at some of the more scientific controversies on the potential link ... foramen ovale and migraine; the link between migraine and stroke; the use of Botox injections as a treatment and food intolerance in relation to migraine. [more...]

Urinary 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin Levels Are Depressed in Chronic Migraine and Several Comorbidities
Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 10/12/2009

Masruha MR et al. – A total of 220 subjects were evaluated – 73 (33%) had episodic migraine, 73 (33%) had chronic migraine, and 74 (34%) were enrolled as control subjects. There was a strong ... sulphatoxymelatonin detected and chronic migraine. Regarding the comorbidities, this study objectively demonstrates an inverse relationship between 6–sulphatoxymelatonin levels and depression, anxiety, and fatigue. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the relationship ... melatonin and migraine comorbidities. These results support hypothalamic involvement in migraine pathophysiology. [more...]

Migraine With Aura Doubles Risk Of Stroke
ScienceDaily, 10/30/2009

Migraine with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) is associated with a twofold increased risk of stroke, finds a study. Further risk factors for stroke among patients with migraine are being a woman, being ... young, being a smoker, and using estrogen containing contraceptives. [more...]

How to identify migraine and avoid it?
Internet Source, 10/29/2009

A migraine is a common and very painful type of headache that affects more women than men. Frequent attacks of migraine may be quite bothersome and may affect quality of life. Steps should be taken to identify and avoid migraine triggers with an aim of ... and intensity of migraine attack. [more...]