- At least one of the following:
- at least one aura symptom develops gradually over five or more minutes and/or different aura symptoms occur in succession over five or more minutes
- each aura symptom lasts five or more and 60 minutes or less
- headache meeting criteria Migraine without aura begins during the aura or follows aura within 60 minutes
Migraine experts caution that when there is motor weakness, great care be taken to arrive at the proper diagnosis as there are times when it can be difficult to differentiate between Basilar-Type Migraine and Hemiplegic Migraine. The IHS criteria also note that if motor weakness is present, the disorder should be coded as Familial Hemiplegic or Sporadic Hemiplegic Migraine. Another reason great care must be taken in diagnosis is that many of the symptoms of Basilar-Type Migraine are also stroke symptoms.
Basilar-Type Migraine presents symptoms that can mimic other, far more serious conditions. It is essential that the diagnosis be definitive and correct. An imaging study such as a CT scan or MRI should be performed to rule out other causes for the symptoms, and an EEG is often performed to rule out seizure disorders. If the doctor making the diagnosis is hesitant about it, definitely seek a second opinion from another doctor. Since BTM is not common, seeing a Migraine specialist is advisable when possible. It is also important to continue medical treatment as advised by your doctor and not skip follow-up appointments. Some other conditions that should be ruled out in diagnosing BTM are:
- seizure disorders
- space-occupying lesions of the brain
- brainstem Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM): a congenital defect consisting of a tangle of abnormal arteries and veins with no capillaries in between. The blood pressure in the veins is higher than normal and may result in a rupture of the vein and bleeding into the brain.
- vertebrobasilar disease
- stroke
As with other forms of Migraine, BTM can be disabling. Because of the neurological symptoms that can occur during Basilar-Type Migraine aura, it can present a larger hurdle than Migraine with aura because the aura itself is debilitating and can last longer. This can mean special problems for people in the traditional work force or trying to care for young children. If they are in an environment where others are not educated about Migraine disease, it is particularly important that efforts be made to educate those around them.
Previous Story
