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Aim: Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMLs) are known to be observed in migraine patients but there only are a handful of studies focused on WMLs in migraine with aura (MWA). In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of WML and demographic and environmental factors associated with WML in patients with MWA. Methods: A total of 112 patients diagnosed with migraine were enrolled. Detailed systemic and neurological examinations, blood pressure, weight and height measurements, presence of hypertension, smoking status, clinical and demographical data and visual analog scale, allodynia symptom checklist (ASC) and migraine disability assessment scale scores were recorded. The migraine groups with and without aura were compared statistically. A logistic regression analysis was performed to analyse the risk factors for the development of WMLs. Results: Supratentorial and periventricular WMLs were more frequent in patients with MWA (p=0.008). Presence of aura and longer disease duration were independent risk factors for the development of WMLs (p=0.0020 and p=0.019, respectively). Migraine attack frequency, and ASC scores were higher in patients with MWA (p=0.005, p=0.015 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Our results show a significant increase in nonspecific WMLs in patients with MWA. A longer disease duration and presence of aura are significant risk factors for development of these lesions. Our findings warrant further research to validate our result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In recent studies, it has been suggested that there is a relationship between migraine headaches and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PTSD has not been diagnosed by a clinician in these studies; the evaluation has been carried out by the screening scales. Besides, it has also been asserted that there was relationship of alexithymia with migraine and other chronic painful disorders. In this study, our aim was to investigate the prevalence of clinically-diagnosed PTSD and alexithymic features among migraine patients. Methods: Sixty consecutive migraine patients sent from neurology clinic and 60 healthy controls having similar features constituted the sample of this study. SCID-I/CV PTSD module and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) was administered to the sample. The subjects also filled in the socio-demographic data form and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). The level of pain perceived by the migraine patients was evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: 17 subjects (28%) in the migraine group and 5 individuals (8.3%) in the control group were diagnosed with PTSD. Hence, PTSD was found to be statistically significantly higher in the migraine group. 25 persons in the migraine group (41.6%) and 12 in the control group (20%) scored above the TAS cutoff score in terms of alexithymic features. Alexithymia was found to be statistically significantly higher in the migraine group). In the migraine group, VAS scores of the ones with PTSD were statistically significantly higher compared to that in ones without PTSD. 94% of the persons diagnosed with PTSD in the migraine group reported that their migraine headaches started after a traumatic experience. In the migraine group, no statistically significant correlation was detected between CAPS and VAS scores in subjects with PTSD. Conclusion: In migraine patients, PTSD and alexithymic features have been found higher than in the healthy controls. Further studies are needed to search whether the practices aimed at treating the PTSD and alexithymic features can contribute to the treatment of migraine headaches or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]