Repeated encephalopathy and hemicerebral atrophy in a patient with familial hemiplegic migraine type 1

Case report: Late onset type 3 hemiplegic migraine with permanent neurologic sequelae after attacks

This case study describes a 57-year-old woman with a six-year history of recurrent episodes characterized by visual, sensory, speech disturbances, hemiparesis and severe one-sided headaches accompanied by fever and altered consciousness. Initially misdiagnosed as a stroke, the atypical disease course and MRI findings led to additional genetic testing which revealed a sodium voltage-gated channel gene mutation (T1174S), confirming a diagnosis of sporadic hemiplegic migraine. The migraine prophylaxis showed some improvement in episode frequency and severity. Despite an initial improvement, the patient underwent severe cognitive decline and developed new permanent neurological symptoms during the subsequent 7 years of follow-up.

Arterial Spin Labeling in Migraine: A Review of Migraine Categories and Mimics

Migraine is a complex headache characterized by changes in functional connectivity and cerebral perfusion. The perfusion changes represent a valuable domain for targeted drug therapy. Arterial spin labeling is a noncontrast imaging technique of quantifying cerebral perfusion changes in the migraine setting. In this narrative review, we will discuss the pathophysiology of the different categories of migraine, as defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 and describe a category-based approach to delineating perfusion changes in migraine on arterial spin labeling images. We will also discuss the use of arterial spin labeling to differentiate migraine from stroke and/or seizures in the adult and pediatric populations. Our systematic approach will help improve the understanding of the complicated vascular changes that occur during migraines and identify potential areas of future research.

Two pediatric patients with hemiplegic migraine presenting as acute encephalopathy: case reports and a literature review

Introduction

Hemiplegic migraine (HM) is a rare subtype of migraine. HM in children may be atypical in the initial stage of the disease, which could easily lead to misdiagnosis.

Methods

We report two cases of atypical hemiplegic migraine that onset as an acute encephalopathy. And a comprehensive search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. We selected only papers that reported complete clinical information about the patients with CACNA1A or ATP1A2 gene mutation.

Results

Patient #1 showed a de novo mutation, c.674C>A (p. Pro225His), in exon 5 of the CACNA1A gene. And patient #2 showed a missense mutation (c.2143G>A, p. Gly715Arg) in exon 16 of the ATP1A2. Together with our two cases, a total of 160 patients (73 CACNA1A and 87 ATP1A2) were collected and summarized finally.

Discussion

Acute encephalopathy is the main manifestation of severe attacks of HM in children, which adds to the difficulty of diagnosis. Physicians should consider HM in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with somnolence, coma, or convulsion without structural, epileptic, infectious, or inflammatory explanation. When similar clinical cases appear, gene detection is particularly important, which is conducive to early diagnosis and treatment. Early recognition and treatment of the disease can help improve the prognosis.

CACNA1A-Related Channelopathies: Clinical Manifestations and Treatment Options

In the last decade, variants in the Ca2+ channel gene CACNA1A emerged as a frequent aetiology of rare neurological phenotypes sharing a common denominator of variable paroxysmal manifestations and chronic cerebellar dysfunction. The spectrum of paroxysmal manifestations encompasses migraine with hemiplegic aura, episodic ataxia, epilepsy and paroxysmal non-epileptic movement disorders. Additional chronic neurological symptoms range from severe developmental phenotypes in early-onset cases to neurobehavioural disorders and chronic cerebellar ataxia in older children and adults.In the present review we systematically approach the clinical manifestations of CACNA1A variants, delineate genotype-phenotype correlations and elaborate on the emerging concept of an age-dependent phenotypic spectrum in CACNA1A disease. We furthermore reflect on different therapy options available for paroxysmal symptoms in CACNA1A and address open issues to prioritize in the future clinical research.

Narrative review of neuroimaging in migraine with aura

OBJECTIVE

To improve the understanding of the role and utility of various neuroimaging modalities (clinical and research) for the evaluation of migraine aura (MA) and hemiplegic migraine during the ictal and interictal phases.

BACKGROUND

MA is defined by reversible neurologic symptoms and is considered a manifestation of a primary condition. As such, most patients with MA do not require imaging. However, if there are atypical features, change in symptom pattern, or it is a first-time presentation, neuroimaging may be used to evaluate for secondary conditions. Neuroimaging includes many modalities, and it is important to consider what information is being captured by these modalities (i.e., structural vs. functional). Imaging abnormalities may be noted both during (ictal) and between (interictal) MA attacks, and it is important for clinicians to be familiar with neuroimaging findings reported in migraine with aura (MWA) compared with other conditions.

METHODS

With the assistance of a medical librarian, we performed a review of the literature pertaining to MWA and neuroimaging in PubMed. Search terms included were magnetic resonance imaging, positron-emission tomography, single photon-emission computed tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and migraine with aura. We hand-searched these references to inform our subsequent literature review.

RESULTS

Acute MA can be associated with several unique neuroimaging findings-reversible cortical diffusion restriction, cortical venous engorgement, and a "biphasic" transition from hypoperfusion to hyperperfusion. Imaging findings during MA tend to span more than one vascular territory. Between acute attacks, neuroimaging in people with MWA can resemble migraine without aura in terms of white matter abnormalities and "infarct-like lesions." Research imaging modalities such as volumetric analysis and functional imaging have demonstrated unique findings in migraine with aura.

CONCLUSION

Although migraine is a clinical diagnosis, understanding of neuroimaging findings in MWA can help clinicians interpret imaging findings and improve patient care.

Familial Hemiplegic Migraine With Progressive Cerebellar Ataxia Caused by a p.Thr666Met CACNA1A Gene Mutation in a Chinese Family

Here, we describe the first case of familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1) resulting from a T666M mutation in the CACNA1A gene of a Chinese individual. A 54-year-old female patient demonstrated extensive clinical manifestations, including transient paropsia, hemianesthesia, logaphasia, hemiplegia, migraine, fever, impaired consciousness, and progressive cerebellar ataxia. At admission, neurological examination showed a fever of 38.6°C, coma, bilateral pupillary constriction, left-sided deviation of both eyes, meningeal irritation, and bilateral positive Chaddock's sign. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) displayed only cerebellar atrophy. The pressure and white blood cells of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were elevated. Her nine relatives also had similar clinical spectra. To further clarify the diagnosis, we conducted a genetic analysis on the family. The results of genetic testing showed that all seven living affected members carried the T666M mutation in the CACNA1A gene. This case report indicates that the diagnosis of FHM should be taken into account when a patient manifests migraine accompanied with hemiplegia, acute encephalopathy, and abnormal CSF. In addition, genetic testing is indispensable for the identification of some atypical attacks of hemiplegic migraine.

Brain atrophy following hemiplegic migraine attacks

Background

Patients with hemiplegic migraine (HM) may sometimes develop progressive neurological deterioration of which the pathophysiology is unknown.

Patient

We report a 16-year clinical and neuroradiological follow-up of a patient carrying a de novo p.Ser218Leu CACNA1A HM mutation who had nine severe HM attacks associated with seizures and decreased consciousness between the ages of 3 and 12 years.

Results

Repeated ictal and postictal neuroimaging revealed cytotoxic oedema during severe HM attacks in the symptomatic hemisphere, which later showed atrophic changes. In addition, progressive cerebellar atrophy was observed. Brain atrophy halted after cessation of severe attacks, possibly due to prophylactic treatment with flunarizine and sodium valproate.

Conclusion

Severe HM attacks may result in brain atrophy and prophylactic treatment of these attacks might be needed in an early stage of disease to prevent permanent brain damage.

Identification of the first in Poland CACNA1A gene mutation in familial hemiplegic migraine. Case report

INTRODUCTION

Migraine is a common neurological disorder characterized by a particular phenotype, complex pathophysiology and a heterogeneous genetic background. Among several heritable forms, familial hemiplegic migraine is the best described one. In the majority of cases it is caused by mutations in one of three different genes.

CASE REPORT

Clinical symptoms of a 47 year old proband (and independently described in his 20 year old son) as well as differential diagnosis are discussed in the presented report. The most characteristic were recurrent attacks of blurred vision, paresthesias and hemiparesis often accompanied by speech disturbances and followed by severe headache with vomiting. Advanced morphological and genetic procedures were required to exclude MELAS, CADASIL and Call-Fleming syndrome. Finally, the definite diagnosis was possible after the application of the whole exome sequencing technique. It confirmed, for the first time in the Polish population, a heterozygous T666M mutation (c.1997C>T; p.Thr666Met) in the CACNA1A gene in the proband, the proband's son and in several other family members.

CONCLUSION

The presented report provides clinical and genetic insight into familial hemiplegic migraine 1 resulting from a mutation in the CACNA1A gene.

Hemiplegic Migraine Presenting with Prolonged Somnolence: A Case Report

Hemiplegic migraine is a rare and complex disease, characterized by migraine with a reversible motor aura. Hemiplegic migraine can be easily misdiagnosed at its first presentation with an atypical severe form of migraine, a stroke, multiple sclerosis, metabolic disorders, conversion disorder or an epilepsy. We present the case of a young 24-year-old male patient, who since the age of 4 years had been having multiple episodes of migraine associated with hemiparesis, paraesthesia, prolonged somnolence, aphasia and confusion. We review the literature and discuss important diagnostic findings in hemiplegic migraine to help establishing a prompt diagnosis.