Migraine with aura: a review of 81 patients at 10-20 years' follow-up

Abstract

We investigated the evolution over time of migraine with aura (MA) in a number of MA patients consecutively referred to the University of Parma Headache Center in the period 1976-86. The follow-up period chosen for our review of the clinical condition of patients varied from a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of 20 years. The study group comprised 81 patients (55F, 26M), 21 of them (14.2%) with at least one parent with MA. Migraine without aura (MO) was also present in 29.6% of the patients studied. Currently, 35% of patients (29.4% F, 46.1% M) have been free from attacks for at least 1 year and 19.4% (13.6% F, 30.8% M) for over 5 years. Moreover, the frequency of attacks has decreased considerably in 54.4% of cases (50% F, 63.7% M); it has increased in only 25% (26.1% F, 22.7% M). The headache has disappeared completely in 11.1% of patients (8.0% F, 18.2% M); it has become less severe in 36.2% and more severe in only 5.5%. The results of our investigation point to a favorable evolution of MA over time.