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Migraine and Autonomic Dysfunction: Which Is the Horse and Which Is the Jockey?

  • Migraine and Beyond (R Cowan, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Symptoms of autonomic dysfunction are common in patients with migraine, both during and between migraine attacks. Studies evaluating objective autonomic testing in patients have found significant, though somewhat conflicting results. The purposes of this review are to summarize and interpret the key findings of these studies, including those evaluating heart rate variability, autonomic reflex testing, and functional imaging in patients with migraine. The neuroanatomy of the central autonomic network as it relates to migraine is also reviewed.

Recent Findings

Several studies have evaluated autonomic balance in migraineurs, with conflicting results on the magnitude of sympathetic versus parasympathetic dysfunction. Most studies demonstrate sympathetic impairment, with a lesser degree of parasympathetic impairment.

Summary

Three trends have emerged: (1) migraine with aura tends to produce more significant autonomic dysfunction than migraine without aura, (2) sympathetic impairment is more common than parasympathetic impairment, and (3) sympathetic impairment is common in the interictal period, with increased sympathetic responsiveness during the ictal period, suggesting adrenoreceptor hypersensitivity.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Division of Autonomic Disorders, Stanford University, 213 Quarry Road, M/C 5992, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Mitchell G. Miglis

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  1. Mitchell G. Miglis
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Correspondence to Mitchell G. Miglis.

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Mitchell G. Miglis declares no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Migraine and Beyond

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Miglis, M.G. Migraine and Autonomic Dysfunction: Which Is the Horse and Which Is the Jockey?. Curr Pain Headache Rep 22, 19 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-018-0671-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-018-0671-y

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