Headache among CADASIL patients with R544C mutation: prevalence, characteristics, and associations.

[cadasil]

There are variations of migraine prevalence in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL ) among different regions of the world . Previous studies on Asian CADASIL patients have not provided detailed descriptions of the characteristics of their headaches . The aims of this study were to determine prevalence and characteristics of headaches and to investigate associations between headache and other clinical symptoms or brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ) findings among homogenous group of patients having the same R 544 C mutation .In this cross-sectional study , we enrolled 53 CADASIL patients with the R 544 C mutation between May 2010 and April 2011 . We obtained the history of headache using a structured questionnaire and detailed interview . Other clinical features and brain MRI findings were also assessed for potential associations .Overall headache prevalence was 45 .3 % (24 patients ). Among them , 21 patients (87 .5 %) were classified as having tension-type headache , followed by migraine (two patients ) and unclassifiable headaches (one patient ). Except for alcohol consumption , no significant associations were observed between the headaches and other clinical features or brain MRI findings .Migraine was found in only 3 .8 % of CADASIL patients with the R 544 C mutation . Such a low prevalence of migraine may hinder clinical detection of CADASIL among ethnically Asian patients .