Persistent negative visual aura in migraine without headache: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Persistent migraine aura without headache is an extremely rare condition. The International Headache Society defines various subtypes of migraines, including “persistent migraine aura without infarction” and “typical aura without headache.” CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 21-year-old Asian woman with a history of migraine without aura who had (as her first aura episode) persistent negative visual symptoms without headache for 6 months. We detected no lesions that could cause her persistent visual symptoms. Based on the patient’s history of migraine without aura and responsiveness to furosemide and lamotrigine, we concluded that the visual symptoms in this case were related to migraine visual auras. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent visual aura without headache overlapped the criteria for the two migraine subtypes mentioned above and thus did not fit an exact diagnosis. Therefore, we assert that new criteria are needed to encompass uncertain visual symptoms of migraine aura.