Cerebrovascular reactivity as a determinant of deep white matter hyperintensities in migraine. (22nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Mi Ji; Park, Bo-Yong; Cho, Soohyun; Park, Hyunjin; Chung, Chin-Sang
• Is Part Of: Neurology. Volume 92:Number 4(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-01-22
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000006822
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3878

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To evaluate the association between the cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide (CO2 -CVR) and the deep white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden in patients with migraine. Methods: A total of 86 nonelderly patients with episodic migraine without vascular risk factors and 35 headache-free controls underwent 3T MRI. Deep WMHs were quantified with a segmentation method developed for nonelderly migraineurs. The interictal CO2 -CVR was measured with transcranial Doppler with the breath-holding method. The mean breath-holding index of the bilateral middle cerebral arteries (MCA-BHI) was square root transformed and analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to determine its association with the highest tertiles of deep WMH burden (number and volume). Results: A low MCA-BHI was independently associated with the highest tertile of deep WMH number in patients with migraine (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0007–0.63, p = 0.026). In controls, the MCA-BHI was not associated with deep WMH number. Interaction analysis revealed that migraine modified the effect of MCA-BHI on deep WMH number ( p for interaction = 0.029). The MCA-BHI was not associated with increased deep WMH volume in both patients and controls. Age was independently associated with deep WMH volume in patients (adjusted OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.004–1.15, p = 0.037). Conclusions: In this study, we found a migraine-specific association between a reduced CVR to apnea and increased number of deep WMHs in healthy, nonelderly patients with migraine. A dysfunctional vascular response to apnea may predispose migraineurs to an increased risk of WMHs.