Gastric stasis in migraineurs: Etiology, characteristics, and clinical and therapeutic implications

Abstract

Background Migraine is a disabling neurological disorder often complicated by gastrointestinal conditions such as gastric stasis. The association between migraine and gastric stasis has received very little attention in the literature, but the existing evidence suggests that they may share a common etiology. Results Patients with migraine and those with gastric stasis exhibit abnormal autonomic nervous system function. Furthermore, empirical studies demonstrate that migraineurs experience significant delays in gastric emptying, both during and outside of attacks, when compared to non-migrainous controls. Conclusion More research is needed to establish the relationship between gastric stasis and migraine burden and to determine the impact of gastric stasis on migraine treatment.