Migraine with aura and white matter abnormalities: Notch3 mutation

The authors report on an Italian family with eight affected members who sho w autosomal dominant migraine with prolonged visual, sensory, motor, and ap hasic aura. These symptoms are associated with white matter abnormalities o n brain MRI. All living affected members carry a Notch3 mutation (Arg153Cys ) previously reported in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subc ortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). White matter abnormalit ies occur in a variable percentage of the general migraine population; CADA SIL should be suspected in migraineurs with prolonged atypical aura and whi te matter abnormalities.