2016 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 8-12
Purpose: An increased prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been reported in patients with migraine with aura compared with non-migraine subjects. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PFO in Japanese patients with migraine.
Methods: Fifty-four consecutive patients with migraine were recruited from the headache outpatient clinic of our department. Migraine was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition. Patients were divided into migraine with aura (MWA) and migraine without aura (MWOA) groups. Transcranial ultrasound was performed, while contrast agent was injected intravenously with the Valsalva maneuver. PFO was diagnosed if micro-embolic signals in the right middle cerebral artery were identified soon after injection of contrast agent and Valsalva load release.
Results: No significant differences in patient characteristics were observed between the MWOA group (n=22) and MWA group (n=32). The prevalence of PFO was 46.3% among all migraine patients, 56.3% in the MWA group, and 31.8% in the MWOA group. Patients with MWA thus tended to show a higher prevalence of PFO compared to those with MWOA (p = 0.077).
Conclusion: The tendency toward an increased prevalence of PFO in the MWA group in this study suggests a possible association between MWA and PFO.
