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Is migraine a progressive disorder?

Peter J Goadsby
Med J Aust 2005; 182 (3): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06606.x
Published online: 7 February 2005

Considering the clinical implications of new research data on migraine and brain lesions

Migraine has received considerable attention in the past 15 years as it has come to be better understood as a brain disorder with new and efficient treatment strategies.1 The World Health Organization considers a day with severe migraine to be in the highest category of disability, comparable to quadriplegia.2 Migraine is classically described and defined as an episodic disturbance manifest primarily as head pain and sensitivity to afferent stimuli, such as light (photophobia), sound (phonophobia) and head movement.3 Against this background, new data have emerged that open the issue of whether migraine may be progressive in some way.


  • 1 Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
  • 2 petergATion.ucl.ac.uk


Correspondence: 

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  • 11. Etminan M, Takkouche B, Isorna FC, Samii A. Risk of ischaemic stroke in people with migraine: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. BMJ 2004: doi:10.1136/bmj.38302.504063.8F [Epub ahead of print, 20 December 2004].

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