Increased von Willebrand factor in migraine

The authors determined von Willebrand factor (vWF) in 63 persons with migra ine, 11 persons with migraine and prior stroke, and 35 frequency-matched co ntrols. Additional studies were done in a subset with migraine without aura who were headache free for >7 days. Migraineurs with prior stroke had sign ificantly higher vWF antigen (170% versus 106%) and activity (162% versus 1 08%) than the control group. vWF antigen (126%) and activity (130%) were al so significantly higher in migraineurs without stroke. Multimers and protea se activity were normal in the interictal subset.