Summary
The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess relative frequency of migraine in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using the validated self-administered diagnostic questionnaire, and to compare the migraine rates in MS outpatients to age- and gender-matched historical population controls; (2) to compare clinical and radiographic characteristics in MS patients with migraine and headache-free MS patients. Kister I, Caminero AB, Monteith TS, Soliman A, Bacon TE, Bacon JH, Kalina JT, Inglese M, Herbert J, Lipton RB. J Headache Pain. 2010 Jul 13. [Epub ahead of print]
Details
Researchers from the Department of Neurology, NYU-MS Care Center,
NYU School of Medicine, conducted a cross-sectional study to
assess the demographic profiles, headache features and clinical
characteristics of MS patients attending a MS clinic using a
questionnaire based on the American Migraine Prevalence and
Prevention (AMPP) study. The relative frequency of migraine was
compared in MS clinic patients and AMPP cohort. Clinical and
radiographic features in MS patients with migraine to an MS
control group without headache were also compared. Among 204 MS
patients, the relative frequency of migraine was threefold higher
than in population controls both for women [55.7 vs. 17.1%;
prevalence ratio (PR) = 3.26, p < 0.001] and men (18.4 vs.
5.6%; PR = 3.29, p < 0.001). In a series of logistic
regression models that controlled for age, gender, disease
duration, beta-interferon use, and depression, migraine in MS
patients was significantly associated (p < 0.01) with
trigeminal and occipital neuralgia, facial pain, Lhermitte's
sign, temporomandibular joint pain, non-headache pain and a past
history of depression. Migraine status was not significantly
associated with disability on patient-derived disability steps
scale or T2 lesion burden on brain MRI.
Authors conclude that , migraine is three-times more common in MS
clinic patients than in general population. MS-migraine group was
more symptomatic than the MS-no headache group.