Late-life migraine accompaniments--further experience

In 1980, 120 cases with late-life migrainous accompaniments resembling transient ischemic attacks were presented. In the present paper, 85 further cases examined in the past five years are analyzed. The findings support the concept advanced previously. In general, the cases are divided into the same categories: visual--21 cases, visual and paresthesias--6, visual and speech disturbance--2, visual, paresthesias and speech disturbance--3, visual, paresthesias, speech disturbance, and weakness--20, visual and brainstem symptoms--3, and cases without visual symptoms--32. The ages ranged from 40 to 73 years. Headache occurred in association with the episodes in only 40% of cases. There was a history of recurrent headache in 65%. The condition can justifiably be regarded as benign. Migrainous accompaniments account for some of the cases of transient ischemia with normal angiograms. Knowledge of the condition helps in the planning of rational management.