[EEG findings in complicated migraine]

Abstract

In the past 11 years 115 patients with complicated migraine were examined at the Neurological University Clinic of Vienna (34 male, 81 female, age range 15-65 years, mean age 32 years). About 80% suffered not only from complicated but also from uncomplicated migraine. 6 cases had ophthalmoplegic migraine, 3 cases typical basilaris migraine and the rest (n = 106) migraine accompagnée. The complicated neurological symptoms consisted in most cases of transient sensory and/or motor deficits (n = 37), 15 of these cases had additional visual field deficits. 36 cases had combination of marked aphasia with sensory and/or motor deficits, 16 were monosymptomatic with severe hemihypaesthesia, 10 cases had only motor deficits. The complicating symptoms (i.e. neurological deficits) occurred before attacks of headache and autonomic symptoms in 85 cases. The man frequency of complicated migraine showed a maximum of 1-2 attacks per year (n = 28), the mean duration of single attacks were 15-45 minutes in most cases (n = 31). Only 3 cases had presistent deficits. All patients were examined with EEG, 24.3% of standard EEG done at an any timepoint within the first 3 month after the last attacke revealed no abnormality, 8.7% cases had diffuse slowing, 14.8% bilateral dyshythmia over tempro-frontal areas, other 19.2% asymmetries of this activity and surprisingly 33.1% foci. The maximum of abnormal activities was over frontal and temporal areas. Marked spikes and sharp waves etc. was observed only in 8%. This is the distribution of abnormal EEGs with regard to the severity of abnormalities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)