OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of thromboembolic risk factors and the effect of low-dose acenocoumarol therapy on migraine in patients who spontaneously reported a reduction of their migraine attacks during previous therapeutic use of anticoagulants. BACKGROUND: The positive effect of anticoagulants on migraine has been described in case reports and observational studies. It remains unclear whether this concerns only a select group of migraineurs with certain common characteristics. METHODS: In 4 migraineurs with a self-reported reduction of attack frequency during previous use of anticoagulants (international normalization ratio [INR], 2.5:4.0), the presence of thromboembolic risk factors and the effect of low-dose acenocoumarol therapy (INR, 1.5:2.0) on migraine attacks were prospectively investigated in an open study. RESULTS: All patients had one or more thromboembolic risk factors. Two patients, both with factor V Leiden heterozygosity, experienced a clear improvement of migraine during low-dose acenocoumarol therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that migraine, as a phenotype, has different underlying mechanisms, amongst which a thromboembolic tendency. In this group of patients, oral anticoagulants may be a suitable form of migraine prophylaxis, but this needs further clinical investigation.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of thromboembolic risk factors and the effect of low-dose acenocoumarol therapy on migraine in patients who spontaneously reported a reduction of their migraine attacks during previous therapeutic use of anticoagulants. BACKGROUND: The positive effect of anticoagulants on migraine has been described in case reports and observational studies. It remains unclear whether this concerns only a select group of migraineurs with certain common characteristics. METHODS: In 4 migraineurs with a self-reported reduction of attack frequency during previous use of anticoagulants (international normalization ratio [INR], 2.5:4.0), the presence of thromboembolic risk factors and the effect of low-dose acenocoumarol therapy (INR, 1.5:2.0) on migraine attacks were prospectively investigated in an open study. RESULTS: All patients had one or more thromboembolic risk factors. Two patients, both with factor V Leiden heterozygosity, experienced a clear improvement of migraine during low-dose acenocoumarol therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that migraine, as a phenotype, has different underlying mechanisms, amongst which a thromboembolic tendency. In this group of patients, oral anticoagulants may be a suitable form of migraine prophylaxis, but this needs further clinical investigation.
Authors: Mohammad Hassan A Noureldine; Ali A Haydar; Ahmad Berjawi; Rody Elnawar; Ahmad Sweid; Munther A Khamashta; Graham R V Hughes; Imad Uthman Journal: Immunol Res Date: 2017-02 Impact factor: 2.829