Migraine and white matter lesions (WML)

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Migraine and white matter lesions (WML). Migraine is reportedly associated with white matter lesions. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Migraine and white matter lesions (WML)

  • Migraine is reportedly associated with white matter lesions
  • This is especially in migraine with aura
  • The risk is higher in women
  • The risk is related to the attack frequency
  • There is a higher prevalence in cerebellar infarcts in migraine
  • A recent study however found no association of migraine with WML or infarcts

Migraine-associated vasculopathies

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Acronyms

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References

  1. Bigal ME, Lipton RB. Migraine as a risk factor for deep brain lesions and cardiovascular disease. Cephalalgia 2007; 27:976-980.
  2. Kruit MC, van Buchem MA, Hofman PAM, et al. Migraine as a risk factor for subclinical brain lesions. JAMA 2004; 291:427-434.
  3. Swartz RH, Kern RZ. Migraine is associated with magnetic resonance imaging white matter abnormalities. Arch Neurol 2004; 61:1366-1368.
  4. Gaist D, Garde E, Blaabjerg M, et al. Migraine with aura and risk of silent brain infarcts and white matter hyperintensities: an MRI study. Brain 2016; 139:2015-2023. 
  5. Stam AH, Haan J, van den Naagdenberg AMJM, Ferrari MD, Terwindt GM. Migraine and genetic and acquired vasculopathies. Cephalalgia 2009; 29:1006-1017.

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