What is familial hemiplegic migraine?

Familial hemiplegic migraine is a form of migraine headache that runs in families. Migraines usually cause intense, throbbing pain in one area of the head, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

What causes familial hemiplegic migraine?

In some affected individuals, hemiplegic migraine occurs because of a change (variation) in a specific gene. This is called familial hemiplegic migraine. Abnormal variations in three genes, the CACNA1A gene, the ATP1A2 gene, and the SCN1A gene, have all been shown to cause the familial forms.

How is familial hemiplegic migraine treated?

Treatment of sudden hemiplegic migraine “attacks” aims to ease symptoms and may include the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-nausea medicines (antiemetics), and/or prescription pain medicines.

How long does familial hemiplegic migraine last?

The symptoms can last for a few hours to days and rarely can last up to 4 weeks. The symptoms resolve completely in a majority of the cases. Most patients with hemiplegic migraine have associated headache. A headache usually occurs during the aura but can occur after the aura symptoms.

Do hemiplegic migraines show up on MRI?

In most cases of hemiplegic migraine, imaging via CT or MRI are normal. In a small number of cases, some changes can be observed including cortical edema, and cortical and meningeal enhancement contralateral to the hemiparesis. [14]. The diagnosis of hemiplegic migraine is clinical.

When should you go to the ER for hemiplegic migraine?

Go to the ER if you are experiencing severe migraine symptoms, or symptoms such as confusion, fever and vision changes, neck stiffness, trouble speaking or numbness or weakness, even if other symptoms of migraine are present (e.g. light sensitivity, nausea).

Can you drive with hemiplegic migraine?

A rare form of migraine called hemiplegic migraine can cause weakness on one side of the body before a headache starts. You shouldn’t drive or use any machinery if you have this type of migraine.

What does hemiplegic migraine feel like?

Severe, throbbing pain, often on one side of your head. A pins-and-needles feeling, often moving from your hand up your arm. Numbness on one side of your body, which can include your arm, leg, and half of your face. Weakness or paralysis on one side of your body.

When is a migraine bad enough to go to the hospital?

You should go to the hospital right away if: You have an extremely severe headache (it could be a migraine, or it could be something more serious) You have speech, vision, movement, or balance problems that are new or different from symptoms you have had before with your migraines.

How long does it take to recover from hemiplegic migraine?

long-term symptoms. People who have hemiplegic migraine may experience neurological symptoms that last from 1 hour to several days. Most people’s motor symptoms will resolve after 72 hours, but they may persist for weeks in some cases.

Is Coca Cola good for migraines?

Coke contains caffeine, which can reduce headache pain.

What kind of migraine is familial hemiplegic migraine?

Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) is an inherited form of hemiplegic migraine. Hemiplegic migraine is a type of migraine with aura that causes motor impairment (such as weakness) in addition to at least one visual, sensory, or speech disturbance (aura) that occurs before the migraine headache begins.

Can a familial hemiplegic migraine be a de novo mutation?

In some individuals, familial hemiplegic migraine may occur as a new (sporadic or de novo) mutation, which means that the gene variation has occurred at the time of the formation of the egg or sperm for that child only, and no other family member will be affected. The disorder is usually not inherited from or “carried” by a healthy parent.

How often does familial hemiplegic migraine occur in Denmark?

Studies suggest that in Denmark about 1 in 10,000 people have hemiplegic migraine and that the condition occurs equally in families with multiple affected individuals (familial hemiplegic migraine) and in individuals with no family history of the condition ( sporadic hemiplegic migraine ).

What should you do if you have hemiplegic migraine?

People with hemiplegic migraine typically are treated with the same medicines used for typical migraine with aura (for pain, and to stop or prevent migraines). However, medicines that constrict the blood vessels (vasoconstrictors) should be avoided because they may increase the risk for stroke.