Migraine without aura as a possible sign of covert neurological involvement in Behçet's disease: A case-control study

Abstract

In the present study we evaluate the prevalence of headache and the frequency of different primary headaches in patients with Bebçet's Disease (BD) without neurological involvement. Furthermore, we investigate the relationship between headache with other clinical, and behavioural variables. Twenty-seven BD patients and 27 control subjects underwent a validated semi-structured questionnaire based on the International Headache Society criteria. Levels of anxiety and depression, disease activity, and current medication were collected. Headache occurred in about 90% of BD patients. There was no difference in the prevalence of the different headache syndromes between BD patients and controls. Only migraine without aura (MwA) was significantly more frequent in BD patients than controls (44.4% vs 11.1% respectively, p.013). No relationship was found between MwA and clinical, and behavioural variables. Among headache syndromes, MwA showed the highest frequency in BD. A vascular or neuronal brainstem subclinical dysfunction could justify this association. A careful interview for migraine might be included in the diagnostic work-up of BD.