Migraine is associated with an increased risk of deep white matter lesions, subclinical posterior circulation infarcts and brain iron accumulation: The population-based MRI CAMERA study

MC Kruit1,
MA van Buchem1,
LJ Launer2,3,
GM Terwindt4 and
MD Ferrari4
+ Author Affiliations

1Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands.
2Department of Chronic Disease and Environmental Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
3Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
4Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Mark C Kruit MD, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands. Email: m.c.kruit@lumc.nl

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that migraine is a risk factor for brain lesions, but methodological issues hampered drawing definite conclusions. Therefore, we initiated the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ‘CAMERA’ (Cerebral Abnormalities in Migraine, an Epidemiological Risk Analysis) study. We summarize our previously published results. A total of 295 migraineurs and 140 controls were randomly selected from a previously diagnosed population-based sample (n = 6039), who underwent an interview, physical examination and a brain MRI scan. Migraineurs, notably those with aura, had higher prevalence of subclinical infarcts in the posterior circulation [odds ratio (OR) 13.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7, 112]. Female migraineurs were at independent increased risk of white matter lesions (WMLs; OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.0, 4.1), and migraineurs had a higher prevalence of brainstem hyperintense lesions (4.4% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.04). We observed a higher lifetime prevalence of (frequent) syncope and orthostatic insufficiency in migraineurs; future research needs to clarify whether autonomic nervous system dysfunction could explain (part of) the increased risk of WMLs in female migraineurs. Finally, in migraineurs aged < 50 years, compared with controls, we found evidence of increased iron concentrations in putamen (P = 0.02), globus pallidus (P = 0.03) and red nucleus (P = 0.03). Higher risks in those with higher attack frequency or longer disease duration were found consistent with a causal relationship between migraine and lesions. This summary of our population-based data illustrates that migraine is associated with a significantly increased risk of brain lesions. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether these lesions are progressive and have relevant (long-term) functional correlates.

Full paper - http://www.sibelium.com.cn/sibelium/WX/fulltext_WX_11/07.pdf

Has anyone had an MRI scan which has shown white lesions?

We have a member who has and she is not getting much help with finding out what they are etc. I was just wondering if anyone else had come across this and what your consultant had said about them?

Hi Tee,Me!,but consultant didn,t explain much just to tell me,its caused by my migraines.Please want to send my MRI BRAIN results for an explanation,if anyone has done this,would be happy to no where,please,as apart from having some spots have some big ones to and wanting an explanation,thankyou.

When my migraines got really bad 15 or so years ago, I had an MRI done and they found a a spot on my braine as well. I think he said the left frontal lobe. Also that it was harmless and that area is not as important as other areas. I never got a satisfying answer and later learned that this area of the brain controls motor movements of specific parts of the body. It is also the area that contains the most dopamine sensitive neurons and associated with attention, short-term memory tasks, planning and drive, etc. I don't know about you, but that all sounds pretty important to me, thank you Mr Headache Doctor. How or why I developed mine I don't know, could never got much input as I think they were looking for something much worse in their book.