What's New in Medicine:

August 1, 2007 - Interesting Differences in MRI Results between Migraine and Non-Migraine Patients

    We now have data that gives us information that migraine sufferers have more MRI detectable white matter lesions in the brain than patients without migraine. These white matter lesions increase with attack frequency, possibly demonstrating progression. Dr. Kruit and colleagues have given us some insight in this area. Some patients with migraine, both with and without aura, are at increased risk for subclinical lesions in certain sections of the brain. We have noted that there is increased risk in the posterior circulation in migrainers with aura with an attack frequency of greater than one migraine per month. We also know that there is an increased risk of white matter lesions in women both with and without aura; although, somewhat higher with aura with an attack frequency greater than one a month. This is still early information, but gives us even more concern and more of an impetus to do the best that we can to control each migraine episode and to start to focus more on the prevention of migraine headaches. Please see the section of prevention of migraine headaches on this website for more information.

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