ATENOLOL PROPHYLAXIS IN MIGRAINE SECONDARY TO AN ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION

The migrainous syndrome secondary to a parieto occipital arteriovenous malformation usually presents as unilateral headache with visual aura of progressive severity. We report successful prevention by atenolol of migraine with visual aura associated with an occipital vascular mal formation. Effectively preventing migraine delayed specific therapeuti c measures, thereby exposing the patient to the risk of an intracrania l hemorrhage. The authors consider that prophylactic therapy should no t be started whenever such an association is suspected.