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Migraineurs with patent foramen ovale have larger right-to-left shunt despite similar atrial septal characteristics

The Journal of Headache and Pain volume 8, pages 209–216 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess differences in proportion of large right-to-left shunt (RLS) and atrial septal characteristics between migraineurs and non-migraineurs referred for transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PF0). This retrospective study took place in a large metropolitan medical centre. The patients were migraineurs with aura (n=52), migraineurs without aura (n=19) and non-migraineurs (n=149). RLS was evaluated before closure using bilateral power m-mode transcranial Doppler at rest and after calibrated, sustained Valsalva manoeuvre, and graded with a validated 0–5 scale. Intracardiac echocardiography was used to assess atrial septal characteristics. Migraineurs had a higher proportion of large RLS (Grade IV or V) than nonmigraineurs at rest and after calibrated Valsalva (rest, p=0.04; Valsalva, p=0.01). Atrial septal characteristics were similar between groups. Migraine is associated with larger RLS at rest and strain; however migraine status does not predict PFO characteristics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Cardiovascular Research and Neurology, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Jill T. Jesurum, Cindy J. Fuller, Carles A. Velez, Merrill P. Spencer, Kimberly A. Krabill, William H. Likosky, William A. Gray, John V. Olsen & Mark Reisman

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  1. Jill T. Jesurum
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  2. Cindy J. Fuller
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  3. Carles A. Velez
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  4. Merrill P. Spencer
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  5. Kimberly A. Krabill
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  6. William H. Likosky
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  7. William A. Gray
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  8. John V. Olsen
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  9. Mark Reisman
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Correspondence to Jill T. Jesurum.

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Jesurum, J.T., Fuller, C.J., Velez, C.A. et al. Migraineurs with patent foramen ovale have larger right-to-left shunt despite similar atrial septal characteristics. J Headache Pain 8, 209–216 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-007-0396-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-007-0396-5

Keywords

The Journal of Headache and Pain

ISSN: 1129-2377

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