[Epileptic seizure and migraine visual aura: revisiting migralepsy]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2008 Mar;164(3):246-52. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2007.10.007. Epub 2008 Feb 15.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: The term of "migralepsy" has been proposed to define migraine-triggered epileptic seizures. Although already reported in the literature for more than fifty years, a number of observations remain debatable because of possible confusion between migraine and epileptic seizure clinical manifestations, including hemifield visual hallucinations, digestive signs and severe headache.

Observation: We report on the case of a young patient suffering from both diseases, in whom a visual aura preceded either migraine attacks or epileptic generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Subtle modification in the primitive visual hallucination, which suddenly contained colored figures and was accompanied by fear before a prolonged loss of contact, suggested a continuum between migraine aura and epileptic seizure in this patient. Brain MRI was normal and EEG showed some sharp waves in the right posterior area.

Conclusion: The presence of a neurophysiological continuum between migrainous aura and epileptic seizure is supported by this observation of "migralepsy". Recent findings from genetic and epidemiological studies further support this link.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain / pathology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / etiology*
  • Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / etiology
  • Fear
  • Hallucinations / etiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Migraine with Aura / complications*
  • Seizures / etiology*
  • Visual Fields