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. 2008 Feb 5;9(1):29–32. doi: 10.1007/s10194-008-0004-3

Performances in cerebellar and neuromuscular transmission tests are correlated in migraine with aura

Anna Ambrosini 1,✉, Peter S Sándor 2, Victor De Pasqua 3, Francesco Pierelli 4, Jean Schoenen 5
PMCID: PMC2245992  PMID: 18250962

Abstract

In previous studies, we described subclinical abnormalities of neuromuscular transmission and cerebellar functions in migraineurs. The aim of this study was to search if these two functions are correlated in the same patient. Thirteen migraineurs [five without aura (MO) and eight with aura (MA)] underwent both stimulation-SFEMG and 3D-movement analysis. Single fiber EMG (SFEMG) results were expressed as the “mean value of consecutive differences” (mean MCD). Precision of arm-reaching movements (measured with an infrared optoelectronic tracking system) was expressed as the average deviation in the horizontal plane. Median values of mean MCD and mean horizontal deviation were not different between MO and MA. However, in MA, but not in MO, both variables were positively correlated. Thus, we conclude that neuromuscular transmission and cerebellar functions are correlated in the same patient when affected by migraine with aura. We suggest that this correlation might be due to a common molecular abnormality.

Keywords: Migraine, Cerebellum, Neuromuscular junction, Genetics

Full Text

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant numbers 3.4523.00 and 3.4566.96 of the National Fund for Medical Research, Brussels (Belgium), by grant number 125 of the Migraine Trust, London (UK) and by a bilateral scientific cooperation project between Italy and the French Community of Belgium 2003–2004 and 2005–2006. A.A. is the recipient of the IHS-Pat Humphrey Research Fellowship 2002.

Conflict of interest

None.

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