Some people with migraines have an increased risk for bra...( Some patients that experience migraines...)

Some people with migraines have an increased risk for brain lesions

Some patients that experience migraines may be at an increased risk for lesions in certain areas of the brain, according to a study in the January 28 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

According to background information in the article, research has suggested an increased prevalence of cerebral infarction and white matter lesions (WMLs) is present in migraine patients. Infarction involves tissue which has died due to lack of oxygen resulting from a blood clot blocking an artery. It is not known whether WMLs are prevalent in the general migraine population.

Mark C. Kruit, M.D., of Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands, and colleagues investigated whether persons with migraines from the general population are at increased risk of brain infarcts and WMLs or whether this risk varies by migraine subtype and attack frequency.

The study involved a sample of Dutch adults aged 30 to 60 years who were randomly selected patients with migraine with aura (visual disturbance ) (n=161), patients with migraine without aura (n=134), and controls (n=140). Brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were evaluated for infarcts and for WMLs.

The researchers found no significant difference between patients with migraine and controls in overall infarct prevalence (8.1 percent vs. 5.0 percent). "However, in the cerebellar region of the posterior circulation territory, patients with migraine had a higher prevalence of infarct than controls [5.4 percent vs. 0.7 percent; more than seven times the risk]," the authors write. Patients with migraine with aura had more than 13 times the risk for infarct than controls. In patients with migraine with a frequency of attacks of 1 or more per month, there was a 9.3 times increased risk. The highest risk for infarct was in patients with migraine with aura with 1 attack or more per month (15.8 times increased risk).

Women with migraine had twice the risk fo
'"/>

Contact: Vicky Cahan
301-496-1752
JAMA and Archives Journals
27-Jan-2004

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Brain imaging study may hold clues to onset of schizophrenia in people at high risk
2. Antiretroviral therapy may prevent excess risk of some cancers in people with HIV
3. Malt liquor beers, and the people who drink them, are different
4. UCLA study shows that people drink less alcohol as they age
5. Flu vaccination benefits people of any age with high-risk medical conditions
6. Elderly people cared for by spouse are at greater risk for abuse, Pitt researchers find
7. Older people get the big picture faster, and they are less inhibited
8. Promise of bladder pacemaker for people with spinal cord injury
9. Controversial Atkins Diet may be beneficial for people with epilepsy
10. How the stories of ordinary people could give them more say over planning decisions
11. Activity not out of the question for people with chronic pain

Post Your Comments: