New-onset migraine with aura after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) is associated with a high success rate and become an accepted alternative to surgical treatment. We describe here a case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with migraine attacks with aura after transcatheter closure of ASD with an Amplatzer septal occluder device. We postulate that any of the following may have been responsible for her condition: platelet activation on the surface of the device, nickel allergy, or the release of the atrial natriuretic peptide associated with the stretch of the atrial septum caused by the device. This case demonstrates that de novo migraine can occur after transcatheter closure of ASD and should be recognized as a potential complication.