Volume alterations of brainstem subregions in migraine with aura.

Igor Petrusic,Jasna Zidverc-Trajkovic,Marko Dakovic

doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101714

Igor Petrusic, Jasna Zidverc-Trajkovic + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101714

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Journal: NeuroImage. Clinical	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2019
Citations: 13	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Belgrade

Abstract

BackgroundThe brainstem plays a significant role in migraine pathogenesis, but a relationship between volume alterations of brainstem subregions and migraine aura characteristics has not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study is to compare the volume of the brainstem, and its subregions, between patients with a migraine with aura (MwA) and healthy controls (HC), and also to correlate characteristics of MwA and the volume of the brainstem subregions.MethodsForty-two MwA and 42 HCs, balanced by sex and age, were selected for this study. Total brainstem volume changes as well as volume changes in the pons, medulla, midbrain and the superior cerebellar peduncles were investigated in MwA relative to HCs. In addition, the relationships between brainstem subregions and aura characteristics (aura duration, the frequency of the aura, occurrence of somatosensory and dysphasic aura, duration of a headache, intensity of headache pain and disease duration) were explored in MwA.ResultsMwA patients had a larger brainstem volume relative to HCs (25,941.35 ± 2559.2 mm3 vs. 25,179.32 ± 2019.1 mm3; p = .008), as well as the midbrain and pons (6155.98 ± 565.7 mm3 vs. 5964.22 ± 457.0 mm3, p = .002; 15,105.13 ± 1765.5 mm3 vs. 14,539.89 ± 1408.4 mm3, p = .007, respectively). Total brainstem volume, as well as volumes of brainstem subregions, were not significantly correlated to the MwA characteristics.ConclusionThe results of this study reveal that a migraine with aura is associated with a larger volume of the brainstem with a particular involvement of the midbrain and pons.

Highlights

A migraine with aura (MwA) is a very common disorder in the general population (Global Burden of Disease Study, 2015), the pathophysiology of the migraine aura and its role as a trigger of a headache still puzzle neuroscientists
The results of this study reveal that MwA is associated with volume changes of brainstem regions
In MwA subjects, these grey matter volume changes were not influenced by the duration or frequency of the aura, occurrence of somatosensory and dysphasic symptoms, duration or intensity of headache pain, and duration of disease

Summary

Introduction

A migraine with aura (MwA) is a very common disorder in the general population (Global Burden of Disease Study, 2015), the pathophysiology of the migraine aura and its role as a trigger of a headache still puzzle neuroscientists. Total brainstem volume changes as well as volume changes in the pons, medulla, midbrain and the superior cerebellar peduncles were investigated in MwA relative to HCs. In addition, the relationships between brainstem subregions and aura characteristics (aura duration, the frequency of the aura, occurrence of somatosensory and dysphasic aura, duration of a headache, intensity of headache pain and disease duration) were explored in MwA. Results: MwA patients had a larger brainstem volume relative to HCs (25,941.35 ± 2559.2 mm vs 25,179.32 ± 2019.1 mm; p = .008), as well as the midbrain and pons (6155.98 ± 565.7 mm vs 5964.22 ± 457.0 mm, p = .002; 15,105.13 ± 1765.5 mm vs 14,539.89 ± 1408.4 mm, p = .007, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal that a migraine with aura is associated with a larger volume of the brainstem with a particular involvement of the midbrain and pons

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