Researchers’ conclusions
“PMVA was associated with an increased risk of stroke, particularly among women without other medical conditions associated with stroke. Behavioral risk factors, specifically smoking and oral contraceptive use, markedly increased the risk of PMVA, as did recent onset of PMVA… n summary, we found an association between PMVA and ischemic stroke of undetermined cause. The association of smoking, OC use, and PMVA with ischemic stroke indicates a high-risk population for which appropriate management strategies are warranted.”
Summary
The Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study provides additional validation to earlier studies showing a link between Migraine with aura and stroke in women. None of this data is cause for panic among female Migraineurs. It is, however, evidence that management of stroke risk factors and Migraine disease are quite important.
“This should not be a cause of alarm to women… But it is something to take into account and discuss with their physician… Migraine with visual symptoms should be considered a weak risk factor for stroke. You can't do anything about it, but it may influence what other prevention measures one may take2… Young women with probable migraine with visual symptoms can reduce their risk of stroke by stopping smoking and finding alternatives to the use of estrogen-containing contraceptives. 3”
Dr. Steven J. Kittner, lead researcher
professor of neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Please let this serve as a call to you to discuss your stroke risk factors and Migraine disease management with your doctors.
Resources:
1 MacClellan, Leah R., PhD; Giles, Wayne, MD; Cole, John, MD; Wozniak, Marcella, MD; Stern, Barney, MD, Mitchell, Braxton D., PhD; Kittner, Steven J., MD. “Probable Migraine With Visual Aura and Risk of Ischemic Stroke. The Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study.” Stroke, 2007;38:2438-2445. DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.488395.
2 Reinberg, Steven. “Women With Migraines at Higher Risk of Stroke.” HealthDay News. August 9, 2007.
3 “Study: Women with Migraine-Induced Vision Problems at-Risk for Stroke.” FoxNews.com. August 10, 2007.
Last updated August 13, 2007.
