Characteristics and prevalence of transient visual disturbances indicativeof migraine visual aura

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and to compar e the characteristics of transient visual disturbances (TVDs) of possible m igraine origin in a clinical and a general population. Data were obtained i n interviews from 100 consecutive female migraine patients (17-69 years) an d 245 women (40-75 years) from the general population. The lifetime prevale nces were 37% and 13%, respectively. We did not detect any differences in c haracteristics of TVDs between patients and women in the general population . A gradual onset of five or more minutes was stated by as few as 45% and 4 6%, respectively. The typical headache phase in conjunction with a TVD had more migrainous features in patients. We conclude from our data that the TV Ds in this study, which do not fulfill the IHS criteria for migraine with a ura, more likely represent poorly described or abortive migraine phenomena, rather than phenomena of other origin.