MIGRAINE HEADACHE ASSOCIATION WITH CARDIOVASCULAR AND CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES

Introduction: The migraine is one of the most common neurologic disorder, represented by recurring headache episodes associated with motor and somatosensory transitory disturbances. This pathology is more prevalent in the female population and is an important cause of incapacitation in the word. In this scenario, several studies propose the correlation between migraine, specially with aura, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, due to pathophysiological aspects in common. However, the mechanisms of association between these diseases are not well enlightened, which difficults a better approach for the patients. Objective: The study aims to discuss and contribute for a better understanding of the association between migraine and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Methodology: This article presents a narrative review of the literature based on the analysis of scientific articles published from 2012 to 2022, in PubMed and Science Direct, on migraine and its association with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Two criterias were applied, titles that did not mention the thematic association between migraine and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and abstracts that did not address the theme migraine and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. After the application of the exclusion criterias, was obtained in total, 50 articles originally in English (including book chapters, guidelines and case reports) remained. Discussion: Migraine is a very frequent neurological disorder, being reported as one of the most disabling diseases in the world, affecting the quality of life, work and social functioning of the migraine patients. It is characterized by a pathological brain state that alters the patterns of neuronal activity, which may or may not be accompanied by the presence of aura, generating pain associated with several motor and somatosensory manifestations that appear both prior to the moment of headache and after the end of the pain crisis. In addition to these clinical associations, migraine can be related to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, due to its path physiology related to endothelial dysfunction, cortex spreading depression and increased coagulability markers and the inflammatory response, which can result in vasospasms and consequent hypoperfusion of some regions. Conclusion: This study discussed the relation between migraine, especially with aura, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular pathologies. Overall, it was evidenced that there is an association of mechanisms between these disorders. In this context, there is an urgent need for more specific research and dissemination of data on the association of migraine and vascular heart and neurological diseases.