Subcortical Volume Changes in Migraine with Aura

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Various features of the cerebral cortex and white matter have been extensively investigated in migraine with aura (MwA), but the morphological characteristics of subcortical structures have been largely neglected. The aim of this study was to identify possible differences in subcortical structures between MwA patients and healthy subjects (HS), and also to determine the correlations between the characteristics of migraine aura and the volumes of subcortical structures. METHODS: Thirty-two MwA patients and 32 HS matched by sex and age were analyzed in this study. Regional subcortical brain volumes were automatically calculated using the FSL/FMRIB Image Registration and Segmentation Tool software (https://fsl.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/fslwiki/Glossary). A general linear model analysis was used to investigate differences in the volume of subcortical structures between the MwA patients and HS. A partial correlation test was used to assess correlations between the volume of subcortical structures and characteristics of MwA. RESULTS: The volumes of the right globus pallidus, left globus pallidus, and left putamen were significantly smaller in MwA patients than in HS (mean±SD): 1,427±135 mm(3) vs. 1,557±136 mm(3) (p<0.001), 1,436±126 mm(3) vs. 1,550±139 mm(3) (p=0.001), and 4,235±437 mm(3) vs. 4,522±412 mm(3) (p=0.006), respectively. There were no significant relationships between subcortical structures and clinical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both the globus pallidi and left putamen play significant roles in the pathophysiology of the MwA. Future studies should determine the cause-and-effect relationships, since these could not be discriminated in this study due to its cross-sectional design.