Precipitating factors of migraine attacks in patients with migraine without aura

PRECIPITATING FACTORS OF MIGRAINE ATTACKS IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA (ABSTRACT)^*. DISSERTATION. NITERÓI, 2000.

RICARDO IERUSALIMSCHY ^**

Migraine attacks can be initiated, in some patients, under the influence of certain factors (like hormonal, alimentary, emotional, sensory) that act upon a reduced pain threshold to precipitate these attacks. Studying the incidence of these factors is of importance if we consider that they participate in a significant number of migraine episodes. Thus, an approach that takes into account the influence of certain factors in the triggering of migraine should be included in any therapeutic trial, as an auxiliary measure to pharmacologic therapy.

To study the distribution of triggers of migraine in a selected population, 100 patients (84 females and 16 males, with ages ranging from 10 to 64 years, averaging 33.6 years) who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for migraine without aura proposed by the International Headache Society (IHS –1988) were evaluated by means of personal interview. Stress was the most cited trigger, triggering migraine in 76%. Afterwards, in descending order of importance, sensorial stimuli (75%), sleep deprivation (49%), hunger (48%), environmental factors (47%), food (46%), menses (39%), fatigue (35%), alcohol (28%), sleep excess (27%), cafeine (22%), physical exertion (20%), head trauma (20%), trips (4%), sexual activity (3%), medications (2%), neck movements (2%), smoking (1%) and the use of a low pillow (1%) were cited. In a comparison made between two groups of patients, there was no evidence of the action of alcohol as a potentiator for alimentary triggers.

We conclude that certain factors seem to play an important role in the triggering of migraine, with stress standing out as the most important one.

KEY WORDS: migraine, precipitating factors, migraine triggers.

*

Fatores desencadeantes de crises de migrânea em pacientes com migrânea sem aura (Resumo). Dissertação de Mestrado, Universidade Federal Fluminense (Área: Neurologia). Orientador: Pedro Ferreira Moreira Filho.

**

Address: Rua dos Artistas 161 /402, 20511-130 Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  28 Nov 2001
• Date of issue
  Dec 2001