Migraine with Aura Linked to Higher Cardioembolic Stroke Risk

Migraines with aura are associated with increased risk of stroke, particularly cardioembolic stroke, according to recent research.

Previous research has shown that migraine with aura is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke, but its relationship with specific stroke subtypes is less well documented.
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To further explore this relationship, researchers examined data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, an ongoing prospective cohort study of 12,844 participants. Participants were given an in-person questionnaire to determine the presence of migraine, either with or without aura, or non-migraine headaches. Stroke diagnoses were based on medical record reviews. Strokes were classified as either thrombotic brain infarction, lacunar infarction, or cardioembolic stroke.

Overall, those participants who experienced migraine with aura were 2.4 times more likely to experience ischemic stroke, 3 times more likely to have a stroke caused by a mass or clot in the heart (cardioembolic), and 2 times as likely to have a stroke caused by a clog in the brain (thrombotic) than patients who had migraine without aura. No association was observed between migraine with aura and lacunar stroke.

“Results from this prospective cohort are consistent with previous studies demonstrating an association between MA and ischemic stroke. Further, we report a stronger and significant association with the cardioembolic stroke subtype, with a significant but smaller association with thrombotic strokes. Etiology of the observed association is currently being evaluated in this population,” they concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Sen S, Androulakis XM, Rosamond W, et al. Ischemic stroke subtypes and relationship with migraine in the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. Paper Presented at: International Stroke Conference. February 17, 2016. Los Angeles, California.