White Matter Lesions Progression in Migraine with Aura: A Clinical and MRI Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE To prospectively evaluate longitudinal changes in white matter lesions (WMLs) in migraineurs with aura, by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to correlate WMLs modifications with patients clinical characteristics. METHODS Forty-one consecutive migraineurs with aura were followed for a mean time of 33.2 months. Patients underwent MRI at baseline and follow-up and were evaluated for cerebrovascular risk factors. Presence of WMLs on MRI was assessed by two neuroradiologists. RESULTS WMLs were present in 26 subjects (63.4%) at baseline MRI. At follow-up a total of 8 patients had new WMLs (19.5%). There was a significant correlation between aura duration and number of new WMLs, and between the number of migraine attacks with aura and new WMLs. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that in migraine with aura WMLs number can progress over time and suggests an association between aura features and WMLs progression. Studies with a higher number of patients are required to confirm these findings.