Cortical Hyperperfusion on MRI Arterial Spin-Labeling during the Interictal Period of Patients with Migraine Headache.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide, a neuropeptide and potent endogenous vasodilator, are reportedly higher in patients with migraine than in healthy subjects, both during and between migraine attacks, reflecting ongoing activation of the trigeminal nervous system. In this prospective study, we measured CBF during the interictal period of patients with migraine after considering insomnia and depression and examined the effects of ongoing activation of the trigeminal nervous system, including during the interictal period, on CBF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a total of 242 patient with migraine (age range, 18-75 years), CBF was measured by MR imaging arterial spin-labeling during the interictal period and was compared with results from 26 healthy volunteers younger than 45 years of age as control subjects (age range, 22-45 years). Cortical hyperperfusion was defined as identification of ≥2 cerebral cortical regions with regional CBF values at least 2 SDs above the mean regional CBF in control subjects.

RESULTS: The overall frequency of cortical hyperperfusion was significantly higher in patients with migraine (115 of 242, 48%) than in control subjects (1 of 26, 4%). Multivariable analysis revealed the 18- to 40-year age group and patients with migraine without insomnia as significant positive clinical factors associated with cortical hyperperfusion. Among patients with migraine without insomnia, the frequency of cortical hyperperfusion was >92% (89 of 97). One-way ANOVA showed that in all ROIs of the cortex, regional CBF was significantly higher in patients with migraine without insomnia than in patients with migraine with insomnia or control subjects. In patients with migraine without insomnia, cortical hyperperfusion findings showed a sensitivity of 0.918 and a specificity of 0.962 for migraine in the interictal period, representing excellent accuracy. In contrast, among patients with migraine with insomnia, sensitivity was only 0.179 but specificity was 0.962.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with migraine without insomnia may have cortical hyperperfusion during the interictal period; however, the findings of the present study need to be prospectively validated on a larger scale before clinical applicability can be considered.