Migraine headaches occurred in 5 (3.1%) of 158 patients who underwent cerebral angiography, according to a recent observational cohort study that ascertained the frequency and type of headaches following catheter‐based cerebral angiography. Consecutive patients who underwent cerebral angiography through the transfemoral (or infrequently, radial) route were included. Each patient underwent a brief neurological assessment after the procedure and more detailed assessment was performed if any patient reported occurrence of a headache. The headaches were classified as migraine if the diagnostic criteria specified by International Headache Society were met. Headache severity was classified using a visual numeric rating scale and time to reach pain free status for 2 consecutive hours was ascertained. Researchers found:
- The median severity of migraine headaches was 10/10 and time to resolution of headaches was 120 minutes (range 60–360 minutes).
- Migraine headaches occurred in 4 (18.1%) of 22 patients with a history of migraine and 4 (23.5%) of 17 patients with regular migraine headaches (≥1 episodes per month).
- Headaches occurred in 6 (3.8%) patients who did not meet the criteria for migraine headaches.
Qureshi AI, Naseem N, Saleem MA, Potluri A, Raja F, Wallery SS. Migraine and non‐migraine headaches following diagnostic catheter‐based cerebral angiography. [Published online ahead of print August 16, 2018]. Headache. doi:10.1111/head.13377.