Migraine - risk factor for blood clot
Migraine is not associated with atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, but it is a risk factor for blood clot in veins.
Migraine is not associated with atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, but it is a risk factor for blood clot in veins.
Migraineurs' blood may be prone to coagulate more easily than normal, which can be considered an alternative explanation for the increased cardiovascular disease risk among these patients. A serious complication, called venous thromboembolism, may occur if the blood clot dislodges into the circulation and blocks a major organ, such as the heart or the brain. This may induce a
heart attack or
stroke.
In previous studies, migraine has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke. The researchers from Italy therefore, investigated the potential association between migraine and atherosclerosis and to assess the risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with migraine. The study involved 574 patients, ranging between the ages of 55 to 94 years. The patients were followed for 15 years and were interviewed regarding
headaches and venous thromboembolism. They also underwent high-resolution ultrasound testing to assess atherosclerosis in the femoral and carotid arteries, two important arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the body.
It was found that 111 subjects had migraines, including 36 with aura, based on standard diagnosis criteria. Patients with or without aura were no more likely than non-migraineurs to have atherosclerosis, and there was no difference in severity or 5-year progression of atherosclerosis between the groups. In fact, there was a tendency for atherosclerosis to be less severe among the migraine patients. However, migraine patients did seem to be at increased risk for venous thromboembolism. Overall, 19 percent of migraineurs developed venous thromboembolism compared with 8 percent of non-migraineurs, a statistically significant difference.
The findings reveal significant association between migraine and lifetime risk of venous thromboembolism but further research is required to investigate the high risk of venous thromboembolism among migraineurs.
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