• Izabela Domitrz, Grzegorz Styczynski, Justyna Wilczko, Malgorzata M Marczewska, Wojciech Domitrz, and Anna Kaminska.
• Departments of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
• Pain Med. 2014 Dec 1;15(12):2156-60.

DesignA migraine is a common neurological disorder that often coexists with other illnesses including heart abnormalities, such as patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal aneurysm (ASA), and mitral valve prolapse (MVP).ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of some heart abnormalities in migraine patients by routine and contrast transthoracic echocardiography.Subjects And MethodsWe assessed the occurrence of PFO, ASA, and MVP in 96 patients with migraine without aura (87 females), in 62 patients with migraine with aura (41 females) and in 53 healthy persons (40 females).ResultsIn comparison with our control group, only the prevalence of PFO was statistically higher in patients with migraine (P = 0.03) and especially with aura (P = 0.01). We did not find any statistically significant differences between the occurrence of ASA or MVP in migraine and control groups.ConclusionThe results of our study raise the question of the heart's role in the mechanism of migraine attacks. If the occurrence of migraine with aura had been related to some heart abnormalities, the pathophysiology of migraine attacks may have some connection to some heart dysfunction. Resolving the association between migraine and comorbid cardiac conditions might shed light on the underlying mechanisms of migraines and even result in a different treatment strategy. However, we do not find any clear connection between PFP, ASA, and MVP, and migraine occurrence.Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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