Faculty Collaboration Database

Small- and moderate-size right-to-left shunts identified by saline contrast echocardiography are normal and unrelated to migraine headache. Chest 2010 Aug;138(2):264-9

Date

02/16/2010

Pubmed ID

20154080

DOI

10.1378/chest.09-2797

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-77955360968 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   56 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We suspected, based on clinical experience, that the prevalence of both intracardiac and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) is higher than previously reported in a healthy population when using modern ultrasound technology combined with a rigorous saline contrast echocardiogram (SCE) protocol. We hypothesized the prevalence of right-to-left shunts (RLSs) would be so high when using this sensitive technique that there would be no significant association of RLS with migraine headache.

METHODS: We recruited 104 healthy volunteers to undergo an SCE followed by completion of a migraine questionnaire. The SCEs were meticulously graded for shunt size and location based on left-sided heart contrast quantity and timing. The migraine headache questionnaire was graded by a neurologist blinded to SCE results.

RESULTS: One hundred four subjects underwent the study protocol. We found 71% of subjects exhibited evidence of RLS. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) was identified in 40 (38%), PAVM was identified in 29 (28%), and five subjects had evidence of both (5%). Based on questionnaires, 42 (40%) of the subjects had migraine headache (29% with aura). There was no significant association of migraine headache with PFO (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.16-2.12; P = .54) or PAVM (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.34-1.9; P = .67), although only 13 (13%) of the subjects had evidence of large RLS.

CONCLUSIONS: When using modern ultrasound technology combined with a rigorous SCE technique, the majority of healthy subjects demonstrate some degree of RLS. PAVM in an otherwise healthy population is common. Small- and moderate-size RLSs do not appear to be significantly associated with migraine headache.

Author List

Woods TD, Harmann L, Purath T, Ramamurthy S, Subramanian S, Jackson S, Tarima S

Author

Sergey S. Tarima PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Arteriovenous Malformations
Contrast Media
Echocardiography
Female
Foramen Ovale, Patent
Humans
Lung Diseases
Male
Middle Aged
Migraine Disorders
Sodium Chloride
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult