The clinical characteristics of migraine attacks are sufficiently different in patients with and without neurocysticercosis, a new study found. Researchers investigated the characteristics of migraine attacks in patients with calcified neurocysticercosis (NCC) on brain imaging. Of 350 migraine patients, 166 had undergone brain imaging. Seventy-two patients with migraines had calcified NCC. The migraine attacks of the patients with calcification (MiC) were compared with those of 94 patients without calcification (MiNC). Among the findings:
- Side-locked headaches were seen in 48.6% of the MiC patients.
- Aura preceding the migraine attack was more common in the MiC group vs the MiNC group.
- The MiC group had fewer headache episodes per month with fewer common associated features and required fewer drugs for secondary prophylaxis.
Pradhan S, et al. Clinical characteristics of migraine in patients with calcified neurocysticercosis. [Published online ahead of print April 6, 2019]. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg . doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trz018.