PATTERN-REVERSAL VISUAL-EVOKED POTENTIALS IN MIGRAINE WITH AURA AND MIGRAINE AURA WITHOUT HEADACHE

Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (PVEPs) were recorded in 20 patients with migraine with aura (MA), 19 patients with migraine witho ut headache (migraine equivalent; ME) during interictal periods, and 3 4 normal subjects. All migraine patients had hemianopsia or fortificat ion spectra during attacks. In both MA and ME patients of less than 49 years of age, there were significant (p<0.01) differences in amplitud e of PVEPs at the mid-occipital and contralateral to visual aura elect rode sites compared to normal subjects. Amplitude of PVEPs in MA and M E showed significant (p<0.001) increases when recorded soon after atta cks, especially within 10 days. There was a significant (p<0.01) corre lation between percentage asymmetries and the duration of illness in b oth MA and ME. We conclude from our PVEP findings that cortical spread ing depression remains the most likely explanation for the migraine vi sual aura.