Cerebral blood flow asymmetries in heactache-free migraineurs

Abstract

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) asymmetries were studied in controls and patients with common and classic/complicated migraine using l33Xe inhalation with 8 homologously situated external collimators over each cerebral hemisphere. Migraine patients as a group more frequently had posterior rCBF asymmetries than controls (p<0.03). Although there were no differences in the number of anterior rCBF asymmetries, migraine patients had 2 or more asymmetric probe pairs more often than controls (p<0.02). The posterior rCBF asymmetries, consistent with the site of activation of many migraine attacks, may be related to more labile control of the cerebral circulation. © 1987 American Heart Association, Inc.