[Basilar-type migraine: pathophysiology, symptoms and signs, and treatment]

Abstract

Basilar-type migraine (BTM) is a type of migraine with aura symptoms resulting from brain stem or bi-hemispheric structures but without motor elements. There are no precise data on the frequency of BTM. The main cohort of the patients includes young people and children with female predomination. The onset of the disease usually occurs before the age of 25. The diagnosis of BTM is based on the finding of two migraine attacks accompanied by a specific aura, with dysarthria, vertigo, tinnitus, impaired hearing, double vision, visual aura elements, ataxia of a cerebellar type, loss of consciousness, and bilateral paresthesias. In the differential diagnosis one should consider the pathology of posterior fossa, diseases with recurrent vertigo, complex epileptic seizures, CADASIL and MELAS syndromes, and alternative hemiplegic migraine with cerebellar symptoms and signs. In the prophylaxis sodium valproate and calcium-entry blockers and, especially in the prophylaxis of vertigo, betahistine chloride are used.