MRA/fMRI Study of Spontaneous Migraine

Functional MRI and MR Angiography Used in Spontaneous Migraine

The purpose of this study is to examine migraineurs during spontaneous migraine attacks without aura, using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to study following:

• Changes in resting state blood-oxygenation-level-dependent-signal (BOLD-signal) using functional MRI (fMRI).
• Changes in circumferences of intra- and extracranial arteries using MR-angiography (MRA).
• Changes in regional and global cerebral blood flow (CBF) using the arterial spin labeling (ASL) method.

Moreover to perform diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans during spontaneous migraine attacks.

The migraine specific drug sumatriptan will be given to relieve pain and the effect will be registered using MRA and fMRI if possible.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Migraine without aura according to IHS criteria.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other primary headaches.
• Tension-type headache more than 5 days/month.
• Use of anti-pain medication before the scanning on the examination day.
• Pregnant or nursing women.
• Contraindication for MR scan.
• Anamnestic or clinical signs of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, unregulated psychiatric disease or drug misuse.
• Other clinical conditions assessed by the examining doctor.