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Scientists discover migraine headaches are linked to hole in heart
Andrew Cross
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: News
An innovative solution may be available for the 30 million Americans who suffer from migraines.
Researchers from Evanston Northwestern Healthcare are attempting to determine if closing a small hole in the heart will reduce or completely cure migraine headaches.
During the maturity of the fetus, a tiny, flap-like opening develops in the wall between the upper left and right chambers of the heart.
This opening, called a patent foramen ovale, allows blood to flow through the heart without being filtered by the lungs.
Scientists believe that if small blood clots pass through the patent foramen ovale and to the brain, migraines result. Large blood clots in the brain even cause strokes.
In people under 50, clots passing through the patent foramen ovale cause between one quarter and one half of all strokes.
By closing the patent foramen ovale, scientists believe they can drastically reduce migraine headaches in the population.
A European study revealed that 40 percent of people who had the hole repaired said their headaches were less frequent or lasted for a shorter period of time.
"[Patent foramen ovale's] can be closed by passing a catheter through an artery in the groin through the aorta into the heart," Richard Lipton, professor of neurology, epidemiology and social medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said.
"For most treatments, a device is left in the heart to close the [patent foramen ovale]."
The Evanston Northwestern researchers are enrolling 500 patients who have not found relief from migraines with preventative medicine.
Scientists will close the patent foramen ovale in two-thirds of the patients, while monitoring the size of the patent foramen ovale in the remaining one-third.
To close the patent foramen ovale, physicians will use the Premiere Patent Foramen Ovale Closure System designed by St. Jude Medical.
The Premiere Patent Foramen Ovale Closure System is experimental and not approved by the FDA. "The device is in clinical trials under…the United States Food and Drug Administration," Amy Meyer, senior media relations specialist of St. Jude Medical, said.
Researchers from Evanston Northwestern Healthcare are attempting to determine if closing a small hole in the heart will reduce or completely cure migraine headaches.
During the maturity of the fetus, a tiny, flap-like opening develops in the wall between the upper left and right chambers of the heart.
This opening, called a patent foramen ovale, allows blood to flow through the heart without being filtered by the lungs.
Scientists believe that if small blood clots pass through the patent foramen ovale and to the brain, migraines result. Large blood clots in the brain even cause strokes.
In people under 50, clots passing through the patent foramen ovale cause between one quarter and one half of all strokes.
By closing the patent foramen ovale, scientists believe they can drastically reduce migraine headaches in the population.
A European study revealed that 40 percent of people who had the hole repaired said their headaches were less frequent or lasted for a shorter period of time.
"[Patent foramen ovale's] can be closed by passing a catheter through an artery in the groin through the aorta into the heart," Richard Lipton, professor of neurology, epidemiology and social medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said.
"For most treatments, a device is left in the heart to close the [patent foramen ovale]."
The Evanston Northwestern researchers are enrolling 500 patients who have not found relief from migraines with preventative medicine.
Scientists will close the patent foramen ovale in two-thirds of the patients, while monitoring the size of the patent foramen ovale in the remaining one-third.
To close the patent foramen ovale, physicians will use the Premiere Patent Foramen Ovale Closure System designed by St. Jude Medical.
The Premiere Patent Foramen Ovale Closure System is experimental and not approved by the FDA. "The device is in clinical trials under…the United States Food and Drug Administration," Amy Meyer, senior media relations specialist of St. Jude Medical, said.
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