Hartl, Elisabeth; Angel, Jose; Rémi, Jan; Schankin, Christoph; Noachtar, Soheyl (2017). Visual Auras in Epilepsy and Migraine - An Analysis of Clinical Characteristics. Headache, 57(6), pp. 908-916. Wiley-Blackwell 10.1111/head.13113
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OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the characteristics of visual auras (VA) in epilepsy and migraine.
BACKGROUND
Both disorders are usually diagnosed on clinical grounds, but differentiation might be challenging in isolated auras or because of the similar presentation in migraine and epilepsy.
METHODS
A retrospective study of two cohorts was performed to compare the VA characteristics of 27 epilepsy patients and 27 age-matched migraine patients.
RESULTS
The duration of VA was significantly shorter in epilepsy (median: 56s; 1st quartile Q1: 26s; 3rd quartile Q3: 130s) than in migraine (20 min; Q1: 10 min; Q3: 30 min) (P < .0001). A cutoff duration of ≥5 minutes identified all migraine patients (100% sensitivity, 92% specificity). VAs of epileptic etiology were characterized by restriction to a visual hemifield (74.1% vs 29.6% in migraine, P = .0024) with stereotypic affection of one hemifield (55.5% vs 7.4% in migraine, P = 0.0003). Centrifugal or centripetal spread of visual phenomena only occurred in migraine (37.0%), but not in epilepsy (P = 0.0007). If present, accompanying symptoms such as nausea/vomiting (19/27) or photo-/phonophobia (17/27) identify migrainous auras (vs 0/27 in the epilepsy patients; P < .0001). Headache presented in all migraine patients, but was also observed in six of the epilepsy patients during cephalic auras or the postictal phase (P < .0001). None of the visual migrainous auras evolved into an epileptic seizure, a concept called migralepsy.
CONCLUSIONS
Several clinical characteristics differentiate VA of epileptic and migrainous origin - if presenting in classical manner. Additional EEG evaluations should be performed in patients with VA of unclear etiology and epileptic VA features added to current classifications to increase their discriminatory power.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurology |
UniBE Contributor: |
Schankin, Christoph Josef |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health |
ISSN: |
0017-8748 |
Publisher: |
Wiley-Blackwell |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Stefanie Hetzenecker |
Date Deposited: |
23 Oct 2017 10:43 |
Last Modified: |
02 Mar 2023 23:29 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1111/head.13113 |
PubMed ID: |
28488762 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
VARS clinical score migralepsy visual sensations |
BORIS DOI: |
10.7892/boris.102134 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/102134 |
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