Page 76 - Migraine, the heart and the brain
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Chapter 4
abstraCt
Purpose of review
The present review covers the latest studies on right-to-left shunts (RLSs) in migraine patients and different types of emboli capable of triggering migraine.
Recent findings
Although three recent studies found no increased RLS prevalence in migraine with aura patients, there remains ample evidence that the prevalence of RLS is increased in migraine with aura. Introduced emboli in the carotid artery of mice have been shown to cause cortical spreading depression, which has been considered the pathophysiological mechanism of migraine aura. In humans, iatrogenic introduced (micro)emboli can provoke migraine attacks; available evidence, however, is limited.
Summary
RLS and migraine with aura (but not without) are comorbid conditions, but the biological mechanism remains speculative. Speci c emboli are probably able (although infrequently) to induce migraine symptoms. There is no convincing evidence that closure of a RLS alters migraine frequency; therefore, diagnosis or treatment of RLS in migraine has no place in daily clinical practice and should only take place in controlled studies.
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