Migraine Is Associated with Enhanced Arterial Stiffness

Vertebrobasilar artery elongation in migraine-a retrospective cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Numerous but inconclusive findings have sparked an ongoing debate about whether the arteries of migraine patients undergo vascular alterations. The outlet angle of the superior cerebellar artery (SUCA) and the lateral displacement of basilar arteries are good surrogate parameters for determining elongation of the vertebrobasilar arteries.

METHODS

We retrospectively determined the SUCA outlet angle and the lateral displacement of the basilar artery in 63 patients with migraine (30.6 ± 8.9 years, 84% women, 16% chronic migraine, 60% migraine with aura) and compared these with 126 age- and sex-matched control subjects.

RESULTS

In patients with migraine, the SUCA outlet angle was lower (159 ± 26° vs. 169 ± 29°, p = 0.020) and the lateral displacement of the basilar artery was greater (3.7 ± 2.7 mm vs. 2.8 ± 2.4 mm, p = 0.020) than in the control subjects. Age, gender, migraine characteristics and presence of any cardiovascular risk factors did not affect the SUCA outlet angle or lateral displacement of the basilar artery.

CONCLUSION

Migraine patients exhibited a lower SUCA outlet angle and greater lateral displacement of the basilar arteries. Both may be attributable to the elongation of the vertebrobasilar arteries, which is an indication of arterial wall pathology in migraine.

Hypertension and Migraine: Time to Revisit the Evidence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

It was reported that migraine was associated with increased vascular risks, and the association between high blood pressure (BP) and migraine was believed by some to be the missing link. The current review focused on the associations between migraine and hypertension and BP per se, and evidence on the directionality of the associations was also reviewed.

RECENT FINDINGS

In cross-sectional studies, the findings regarding whether migraine was associated with hypertension were inconsistent, and positive, neutral, or even inverse associations were reported. When individual BP parameters were examined separately, migraine was associated with higher diastolic BPs, and perhaps lower pulse pressures, although the associations with systolic BPs were incongruent. When studies mainly recruiting elderly patients are excluded, it appeared that studies reporting a positive association between migraine and high BPs, particularly high diastolic BPs, outnumbered those with an inverse or neutral association. In longitudinal studies, there was evidence that migraine patients were at increased risks of developing hypertension at follow-up. However, studies examining whether high BP could predict new-onset migraine yielded conflicting results. The association between migraine and hypertension is still a controversial issue, and a firm conclusion is precluded by the heterogeneities in methodologies and study populations. Migraine patients are at increased risk of developing hypertension. However, whether hypertension predicts migraine remains inconclusive. Further studies are needed to clarify the complicated association between BP and migraine.

Left ventricular hypertrophy and other cardiac risk factors in migraineurs

BACKGROUND

The influence of cardiovascular risk factors on the probability of cardiovascular diseases in migraineurs is still being discussed.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

To further elucidate the mechanisms of these relationships, we assessed the associations between migraine and cardiovascular risk factors, including those that have been recently shown to improve the prediction of cardiovascular events.

METHODS

We used the data of the Finnish Health 2000 Survey (BRIF8901), consisting of 5737 subjects aged 30 years or older. In total, 488 participants reported migraine. In addition to conventional cardiovascular risk factors, educational attainment, presence of electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and hemoglobin A1c were also included in the logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Migraine was found to be associated with female sex (Odds ratio (OR) = 3.75, p < .001), lower age (B = 0.99, p < .001), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 1.23, p < .05), higher diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.31, p < .05), and left ventricular hypertrophy (OR = 1.32, p < .05), the probability of the last one increasing with migraine attack frequency.

CONCLUSIONS

Left ventricular hypertrophy, most probably as a consequence of migraine-related arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia, may play a role in the relationship between migraine and cardiovascular events. The nature of this finding calls for further studies.

Migraine and Arterial Stiffness in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health: ELSA-Brasil

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms that underlie the link between migraine and cardiovascular diseases are not clear and arterial stiffness could play a role in that association. We analyzed the association between migraine and vascular stiffness measured by carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV-cf).

METHODS

In a cross-sectional analysis of a well-defined population from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) with complete and validated information about migraine and aura according to the International Headache Society criteria, the association between arterial stiffness measured by PWV-cf was tested with multiple linear regression models [β (95% CI)] comparing migraine without aura (MO) and migraine with aura (MA) to the reference group no-migraine (NM). Subsequent adjustments were made for mean arterial pressure, age, sex, education level, physical activity, alcohol use, diabetes mellitus, smoking, antihypertensive medication, body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, and LDL-c level to test the independence of the association between migraine status and pulse wave velocity.

RESULTS

We studied 4,649 participants, 2,521 women (25.7% MO and 15% MA) and 2,128 men (11% MO and 4.3% MA). In NM, MO, and MA standard PWV-cf were 8.67 (±1.71) 8.11 (±1.31) and 8.01 (±1.47) m/s, respectively. Unadjusted PWV-cf differed between NM, MA, and MO (P < 0.001). After adjustment for mean arterial pressure PWV-cf in NM did not differ anymore from MA (P = 0.525) and MO (P = 0.121), respectively. Fully adjusted models also yielded nonsignificant coefficients β (95% CI) -0.079 (-0.280; 0.122) and -0.162 (-0.391; 0.067) for MO and MA, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this large cohort of middle-aged adults, aortic PWV was not associated with migraine.

Vitamin K2 Status and Arterial Stiffness Among Untreated Migraine Patients: A Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine arterial stiffness and vitamin K2 status in migraine subjects by comparison to controls.

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a primary headache disorder that has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Mechanisms underlying this increased risk, however, remain unclear. Vitamin K2 deficiency emerged as a cardiovascular risk factor, but vitamin K2 status has never been explored in migraine subjects.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This is a case-control, single-center, observational study that includes a cohort of subjects with migraine and their age- and sex-matched controls. Arterial stiffness was measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix-Gla-protein (dp-ucMGP) was used as a marker for vitamin K2 status. A propensity-matched scoring method was used.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients (73 matched pairs) were included in this study, of whom 89% were women with a mean age of 31.9 ± 8.4 years. Compared with controls, migraine patients had statistically significantly higher mean cfPWV (7.2 ± 1.1 vs 6.4 ± 0.8 m/s, 95% confidence interval (CI) of mean difference [0.45, 1.08], P < .001), as well as higher dp-ucMGP (454.3 ± 116.7 pmol/L vs 379.8 ± 126.6 pmol/L, 95% CI of mean difference [34.63, 114.31], P < .001). Higher cfPWV was associated with higher dp-ucMGP concentrations only in the migraine with aura (MWA) group. Moreover, migraine subjects had a higher frequency of vitamin K2 deficiency (dp-ucMGP ≥ 500 pmol/L) compared to controls, but this association was not statistically significant (23/73 [31.5%] vs 16/73 [21.9%], P = .193).

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with migraine have worse indices of arterial stiffness as compared with their age- and sex-matched control subjects. This increase in arterial stiffness is associated with an increase in markers of vitamin K2 deficiency in the MWA group.

Hypertension and Migraine in the Northern Manhattan Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between migraine and hypertension in the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS), a multiethnic community-based sample.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

1338 NOMAS participants (mean age 68.1 ± 9.6 years, 37% male, 15% non-Hispanic White, 19% non-Hispanic Black, 67% Hispanic).

SETTING

Northern Manhattan community.

INTERVENTION

Participants were assessed for migraine symptoms using a self-report questionnaire based on criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg, the patient's self-reported hypertension, or use of anti-hypertensive medications. Duration (≤9 years vs >9 years) and control (BP<140/90) of hypertension were examined. We estimated the association between hypertension and migraine (overall and with/without aura) using logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographic and vascular risk factors.

RESULTS

The majority of participants (80%) had no migraine, 6% had migraine with aura, and 15% had migraine without aura. Hypertension was present in 76% of the study population (7% had controlled hypertension ≤9 years duration, 5% controlled hypertension >9 years duration, 41% uncontrolled hypertension ≤9 years duration, 23% uncontrolled hypertension >9 years duration). Hypertension was associated with migraine (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.21-2.54), both with and without aura. This association was particularly apparent for those with uncontrolled and long duration hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Hypertension, particularly uncontrolled and of long duration, is associated with migraine, both with and without aura, in a predominantly Hispanic community-based cohort.

Higher augmentation index is associated with tension-type headache and migraine in middle-aged/older humans with obesity

OBJECTIVE

Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic daily headaches, including migraine and tension-type headache (TTH). Although migraine is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), a relation between TTH and CVD risk has not been established. It was hypothesized that higher carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) and augmentation index (AI), measures of aortic stiffness and pressure wave reflection, respectively, and biomarkers of CVD risk, would be higher among adults with obesity and migraine or TTH compared with those with no headache.

METHODS

Adults with obesity (n = 93; body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2) ) who were between 40 and 75 years old with at least one additional CVD risk factor were enrolled. Subjects had CFPWV and AI assessed and a complete neurological exam for diagnosis of headache in the past 12 months.

RESULTS

Adults with obesity and TTH (P = 0.018), but not migraine (P = 0.29), had significantly higher AI compared with those with no headache. When both CFPWV and AI were considered in a logistic regression model with migraine or TTH, only AI was associated with TTH (P = 0.008) and migraine (P = 0.032) but could not distinguish between the two headache phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased aortic AI but not stiffness is associated with TTH and migraine among middle-aged/older adults with obesity and high CVD risk.

The effect of prophylactic migraine treatment on arterial stiffness

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a common type of primary headache predominantly seen in women. This study aimed to evaluate endothelial function in patients with migraine using pulse wave velocity (PWV).

METHODS

The study included 73 patients with newly diagnosed migraine and 80 healthy subjects. All patients and controls underwent baseline transthoracic echocardiography and PWV measurements. Patients were randomized to three groups to receive propranolol, flunarizine or topiramate, and the measurements were repeated at the end of 1 month.

RESULTS

The newly diagnosed migraine patients and the control group exhibited no differences in baseline clinical characteristics, and the measurements showed that PWV was 7.4 ± 1.0 m/s in the patient group and 6.0 ± 1.0 m/s in the control group (p < 0.001). The same measurements were repeated during a control visit at the end of 1 month. Following treatment, a significant decrease was observed in PWV in all patient groups compared to baseline (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed significantly decreased PWV in all drug groups, with the most prominent decrease in the topiramate group.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased PWV demonstrated in migraine patients in this study stands out as an additional parameter elucidating endothelial dysfunction in these patients. Decreasing the number of migraine attacks with prophylactic treatment may reduce PWV and decrease cardiovascular risk in long-term follow-up.

Association of statin use and risk for severe headache or migraine by serum vitamin D status: a cross-sectional population-based study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this article is to evaluate whether statin use and vitamin D status is associated with severe headache or migraine in a nationally representative sample.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of US individuals aged ≥40 years for whom information on statin use, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), and self-reported severe headache or migraine had been collected. We calculated prevalence estimates of headache according to statin and 25(OH)D, and conducted adjusted logistic regression analyses stratified by the median 25(OH)D (≤57 and >57 nmol/l).

RESULTS

Among 5938 participants, multivariable-adjusted logistic regression showed that statin use was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of severe headache or migraine (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.46, 0.98, p = 0.04). We found a significant interaction between statin use and 25(OH)D with the prevalence of severe headache or migraine (p for interaction = 0.005). Among participants who had serum 25(OH)D > 57 nmol/l, statin use was associated with a multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of 0.48 (95% CI 0.32, 0.71, p = 0.001) for having severe headache or migraine. Among those with 25(OH)D ≤ 57 nmol/l, no significant association was observed between statin use and severe headache or migraine.

CONCLUSION

Statin use in those with higher serum vitamin D levels is significantly associated with lower odds of having severe headache or migraine.

Peripheral vascular dysfunction in migraine: a review

Numerous studies have indicated an increased risk of vascular disease among migraineurs. Alterations in endothelial and arterial function, which predispose to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, have been suggested as an important link between migraine and vascular disease. However, the available evidence is inconsistent. We aimed to review and summarize the published evidence about the peripheral vascular dysfunction of migraineurs.We systematically searched in BIOSIS, the Cochrane database, Embase, Google scholar, ISI Web of Science, and Medline to identify articles, published up to April 2013, evaluating the endothelial and arterial function of migraineurs.Several lines of evidence for vascular dysfunction were reported in migraineurs. Findings regarding endothelial function are particularly controversial since studies variously indicated the presence of endothelial dysfunction in migraineurs, the absence of any difference in endothelial function between migraineurs and non-migraineurs, and even an enhanced endothelial function in migraineurs. Reports on arterial function are more consistent and suggest that functional properties of large arteries are altered in migraineurs.Peripheral vascular function, particularly arterial function, is a promising non-invasive indicator of the vascular health of subjects with migraine. However, further targeted research is needed to understand whether altered arterial function explains the increased risk of vascular disease among patients with migraine.

Peripheral endothelial function and arterial stiffness in patients with chronic migraine: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a complex and disabilitating neurovascular disorder predominantly affecting women. There is strong evidence that nitric oxide is critically involved in migraine pathophysiology. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that chronic migraine is associated with ultrasonographic endothelial dysfunction and increase in arterial stiffness. These parameters were assessed using a novel plethysmograph by peripheral arterial tonometry.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with chronic migraine and twenty-one healthy controls matched by sex and gender were recruited. Measurement of the ultrasonographic endothelial function and augmentation index were made according to manufacturer's protocol.

RESULTS

The mean of patient's peripheral arterial tonometry ratios was 1.93 ± 0.39 and for healthy control 2.21 ± 0.44 (p=0.040). The median of patients' augmentation index was -6,0 (IQR: 6.5 to -15) in healthy controls and 9.0 (IQR: 4 to 12) in chronic migraine, (p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with chronic migraine have ultrasonographic endothelial dysfunction and increase in the arterial stiffness. An improved understanding of the role in the endothelial system of migraine may provide a basis for preventive drugs in migraine and restore the endothelial function.

Improved parameterization of the transcranial Doppler signal

The great potential of transcranial Doppler (TCD) as a tool for neuromonitoring is limited by the current parameterization of the signal. This article proposes a set of new parameters that more accurately represents the shape of the waveform and eliminates a number of confounding factors. This set of parameters was tested in 227 patients with ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis and compared with 31 normal subjects recruited at our laboratory. From the TCD waveform, we calculated on a beat-to-beat basis the maximal change in flow velocity at stroke onset (acceleration or acc), the maximal flow velocity during the first 100 ms of systole (sys1) and the maximal flow velocity in the remaining part of systole (sys2). All data were normalized relative to the mean diastolic flow velocity over an interval ranging from 520 till 600 ms after stroke onset (dias@560). For the group with carotid stenosis compared with the normal controls the average ± SD for acc (20.2 ± 9.5 vs. 20.2 ± 6.7; p = 0.98) and sys1 (1.82 ± 0.38 vs. 1.77 ± 0.56; p = 0.35) did not differ significantly. The average ±SD for sys2 (1.94 ± 0.33 vs. 1.50 ± 0.12; p < 0.001), however, was significantly higher in the group with carotid stenosis than in the group of normal subjects. The difference between sys1 and sys2 ("sys1-sys2") was lower in the patient group than in controls (-0.12 ± 0.16 vs. 0.27 ± 0.22; p < 0.001). For the acc, there was a significantly higher variance in the group with stenosis than without (p < 0.001). Of the old parameters, the beat-to-beat mean (37.0 ± 13.1 vs. 41.3 ± 15.9; p = 0.17) and the pulsatility index (PI; 1.00 ± 0.26 vs. 0.91 ± 0.23; p = 0.06) were not significantly different between groups. Graphed together the acc and "sys1-sys2" parameters allowed a clear demarcation of both groups whereas in a graph of the old parameters mean and PI both groups overlapped considerably. In conclusion, the proposed set of new parameters not only has theoretical and practical benefits but also has excellent discriminative power in a group of carotid patients compared with normal controls.

Peripheral endothelial function and arterial stiffness in women with migraine with aura: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Vascular dysfunction may be involved in migraine pathophysiology and contribute to the increased risk of ischemic stroke in migraine, particularly in women with migraine with aura (MA). However, data on endothelial function in MA are controversial. Here, we investigated whether systemic endothelial function and arterial stiffness are altered in women with MA, using a novel peripheral arterial tonometry device for the first time.

METHODS

Twenty-nine female MA patients without comorbidities and 30 healthy women were included, and carotid intima-media thickness was assessed by a standardized procedure. Endothelial function was assessed using peripheral arterial tonometry. Reactive hyperaemic response of digital pulse amplitude was measured following 5 minutes of forearm occlusion of the brachial artery. Arterial stiffness was assessed by fingertip tonometry derived and heart-rate-adjusted augmentation index.

RESULTS

No differences were found in peripheral arterial tonometry ratio (2.3 ± 0.6 vs 2.2 ± 0.8; p = 0.58) and left carotid intima-media thickness (in µm: 484 ± 119 vs 508 ± 60; p = 0.37). Women with MA had higher heart-rate-averaged augmentation index [median (interquartile range, IQR) of 5 (IQR 0.5 to 18) vs -5 (IQR -16.8 to 8.3), p = 0.005] and heart-rate-adjusted augmentation index [1 (IQR -6 to 12.5) vs -8 (IQR -20.3 to 2.5), p = 0.008] than healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

Peripheral endothelial function is not impaired in women with MA, but they have greater arterial stiffness. This may contribute to the increased stroke risk in women with MA.

Pulse wave velocity study in middle-aged migraineurs at low cardiovascular disease risk

BACKGROUND

Migraine is associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent studies have suggested vascular dysfunction in the aorta, the brachial and femoral artery. Little is known about such arterial changes in Japanese midlife migraineurs. We aimed to evaluate arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in middle-aged migraineurs at low CVD risk.

METHODS

Brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) and ABI, using an oscillometric technique, were measured in 111 migraineurs (81 women and 30 men) and 110 controls. All participants had no CVD risk factors. Statistical comparison of baPWV and ABI between both groups and the relationship to clinical variables of migraineurs were analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-two subjects had migraine with aura and 89 had migraine without aura. Mean age (SD) of migraineurs was 44.4 (8.4) years. Mean duration (SD) was 18.0 (10.8) years. Attack frequency was 60 subjects in ≥1 time/month and 51 subjects in <1 time/month. Mean score (SD) of Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) was 61.4 (8.7). CVD risk profile did not differ statistically between migraineurs and controls. Mean baPWV (SD) of migraineurs was 1247 (189) cm/second in women and 1356 (126) in men. That of controls was 1138 (136) in women and 1250 (121) in men. baPWV was increased significantly in female and male migraineurs. Mean ABI (SD) was 1.05 (0.06; 1.04 [0.07] in men and 1.05 [0.06] in women) in migraineurs and 1.06 (0.07) in controls (1.05 [0.08] in men and 1.06 [0.08] in women). ABI did not differ statistically between migraineurs and controls. Migraine subtypes, duration, attack frequency, and HIT-6 score were not associated with baPWV and ABI.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicated higher baPWV in midlife migraineurs without CVD risk factors. This pathogenesis could reflect distinct vascular reactivity rather than arterial stiffness due to atherosclerosis.

[Migraine improved by amlodipine medication in a case with hypertension]

A 64-year old woman visited our outpatient clinic with chronic headache on August 30(th), 2005. She had been suffering from migraine from her 30's. Although sumatriptan improved her symptoms, migraine attacks had occurred every other day recently. At presentation, her headache was moderate in intensity and lasted about four hours. Daily activity worsened her pulsating headache associated with nausea and vomiting. She diagnosed with migraine without aura, which met the diagnostic criterion for migraine by International Classification of Headache Disorders. Lomerizine was administered as a prophylactic agent, however it did not reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Accordingly, lomerizine was withdrawn from November 2005. Her blood pressure gradually increased during the course, and amlodipine, 2.5 mg/day, was started for her hypertension May 2007. After starting amlodipine, she noticed a reduction in migraine attacks, only two times a month in August 2007. Assessment with the HIT-6 questionnaire showed great improvement in her QOL score for daily life. Although the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated, amlodipine was effective in reducing migraine attacks in this patient. The findings in this case may suggest that amlodipine administration might be a useful strategy to control migraine attack.

The vascular risk associations with migraine: relation to migraine susceptibility and progression

Migraine is a common disorder in which changes in cortical excitability, neuroinflammation and dysfunction of the vascular wall contribute to its pathophysiology. Repeated attacks of migraine over prolonged periods result in inflammatory arteriopathy of the cranial vessels. Several studies indicate that migraine is associated with special pattern of inflammatory markers and some adverse vascular risk factors including: increased levels of CRP, ILs, TNF-alpha and adhesion molecules which are markers of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and thrombosis, increased body weight, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, impaired insulin sensitivity, high homocysteine levels, stroke and coronary heart disease. Such comorbidities are not explained by bias but indicate possible shared underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Recent studies have shown involvement of cranial as well as peripheral vascular dysfunction with migraine indicating that migraine may be a local manifestation of a systemic disease rather than a primary brain phenomenon. The associated inflammatory process of migraine together with the associated adverse medical comorbidities exposes patients to endothelial vascular wall injury which further increases migraine susceptibility and progression as well as increases the risk for atherogenesis. The knowledge that migraine is a risk for vascular diseases raises important clinical implications, recommendations and future perspectives in migraine treatment and prevention.

Comorbid neuropathologies in migraine: an update on cerebrovascular and cardiovascular aspects

Several conditions are comorbid with migraine; our review is focused on the relation between migraine, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Despite many studies showed an association between migraine and patent foramen ovale, it is still not known whether its presence might be causal for the migraine pathogenesis and currently its closure cannot be recommended for migraine prevention. On the contrary, conflicting epidemiological data link migraine to arterial hypertension and the use of antihypertensive agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system sounds promising in migraine prevention. A complex bidirectional relation exists between migraine and stroke, and new evidences show a clear association between migraine and coronary heart disease. In both conditions, migraine represents a defined risk factor although the magnitude of the risk varies across the different studies. However, since the risk is low in the general population, it is not possible to identify which migraineurs will develop a cardiovascular or a cerebrovascular event making difficult to apply preventive measures.