I am a
Home I AM A Search Login

Papers of the Week


Papers: 30 Mar 2019 - 5 Apr 2019

PAIN TYPE:
Migraine/Headache


2019 Apr 03


J Headache Pain


20


1

Neuroimaging clues of migraine aura.

Authors

Hadjikhani N, Vincent M
J Headache Pain. 2019 Apr 03; 20(1):32.
PMID: 30943894.

Abstract

While migraine headaches can be provoked, or predicted by the presence of an aura or premonitory symptoms, the prediction or elicitation of the aura itself is more problematic. Therefore, imaging studies directly examining the aura phenomenon are sparse. There are however interictal imaging studies that can shed light on the pathophysiology of the migraine with aura (MWA) cascade. Here, we review findings pointing to the involvement of cortical spreading depression (CSD) and neuroinflammation in MWA. Whether asymptomatic CSD also happens in some migraine without aura is still under debate. In addition, new evidence points to glial activation in MWA, indicating the involvement of astrocytes in the neuroinflammatory cascade that follows CSD, as well as dural macrophages, supporting the involvement of the trigeminovascular system in migraine pain.