MIGRAINE WITH VISUAL AURA AND PHOTOSENSITIVE EPILEPTIC SEIZURES

A relationship between epilepsy and migraine has long been postulated, but the nature of this interaction is still debated. We observed this association in a 23-year old man with a history of migraine with visu al aura who had seizures at age 15 years while watching television. Wa king EEG was normal, but sleep recordings demonstrated posterior spike -waves during sleep. During intermittent photic stimulation (IPS), a p hotoparoxysmal response occurred, maximum in occipital areas. Brain ma gnetic resonance imaging scan was normal. Seizures did not recur after 4-year treatment with valproate. He is currently seizure-free, but co ntinues to have rare migraine with visual aura. The role of spreading depression or of a putative dopaminergic failure in occipital cortex i s discussed.