Hemiplegic migraines come in two categories: familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) and sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM).
This article explores the symptoms, causes, and treatments for both types of hemiplegic migraine (HM).
Contents of this article:
Types of hemiplegic migraine
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment and prevention
Types of hemiplegic migraine
The two distinct types of hemiplegic migraine have slightly different causes, symptoms, and risk factors.
Familial hemiplegic migraine
This form of HM occurs in families in which there may be a genetic abnormality or mutation that affect certain genes in the brain.
These genes affect the communication between parts of the brain called neurons and chemical neurotransmitters.
When a person is affected by FHM due to a genetic abnormality, there is a 50 percent chance that their children will also be affected.
Typically, FHM symptoms are noticed first during childhood and adolescence and decrease with age.
Sporadic hemiplegic migraine
Often, those affected by SHM do not have a family history of hemiplegic migraines. However, they may still be affected by a genetic abnormality. This is also true for those with FHM.
Someone with SHM may be the first person in a family to be diagnosed. However, this does not rule out the possibility that they have a parent with the abnormal gene who has never experienced SHM symptoms.
Symptoms
Although the symptoms of HM vary from person to person, they may include:
migraine
unilateral body weakness in the face, arms, or legs
visual disturbances such as blind spots, light flashes, zigzag, or double vision
numbness or tingling of the face or in an extremity, such as an arm or a leg
speech difficulty
headache
symptoms similar to meningitis or inflammation associated with it
motor weakness
clumsiness or lack of coordination
confusion
drowsiness
change in consciousness
memory loss
nausea and vomiting
sensitivity to light or sound
psychosis
Some people are affected more severely. If this is the case, symptoms can include:
coma
fever
seizures
In extremely severe, but rare cases, HM can be fatal. However, it is normally very treatable.
Short term vs. long term symptoms
Most of those suffering from HM will experience neurological symptoms, ranging from 1 hour to several days. However, there are some people who have symptoms of memory loss and attention difficulties that persist for weeks or months.
The symptoms associated with HM are normally temporary, but in rare cases there may be permanent effects, including:
coordination difficulties
sensory changes
language changes
involuntary eye movements
Causes
Both types of HM can be caused by genetic abnormalities. For FHM, certain foods, stress, or a minor head trauma may also be a trigger.
As many as 12-60 percent of those who have migraines report certain food are a trigger. Foods that often cause a problem include
alcohol
cheese
chocolate
Alcohol is thought to contribute to migraines for the following reasons:
increased risk of dehydration
more blood going to the head
potential for preservative sulfites
Alcohol triggers vary, but migraines are commonly reported after consuming:
red wine
beer
champagne
whiskey
Due to the high levels of the chemical tyramine, certain cheeses and other foods have been reported to trigger migraine. Foods with high levels of tyramine include:
aged cheeses, such as gouda or parmesan
processed meats
olives
pickles
chocolate
nuts
The caffeine content in chocolate may also contribute to headaches. Similarly, stress and hormonal changes inducing chocolate cravings may be factors.
The presence of abnormal chemical and electrical brain signals are additional possibilities. These affect how the brain processes chemicals known as neurotransmitters.
Diagnosis
In order to diagnose the presence of HM, a doctor will look at symptoms in addition to examining someone. They will also look at family history.
The Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center explains the criteria for diagnosis as having at least two HM attacks.
An HM attack has a two-part definition. Firstly, to be considered an HM attack, a person must be experiencing a migraine. This will be accompanied by temporary symptoms affecting motor weakness, vision, senses, and speech.
In addition, a person will have at least two of these four characteristics:
at least one neurological symptom that spreads gradually over 5 minutes or more
two or more symptoms that occur in succession
each individual non-motor symptom lasts 5 to 60 minutes, and motor symptoms lasts up to 72 hours
at least one symptom on one side only
the visual, sensory or motor symptom accompanied or followed by a headache within 1 hour
For a correct HM diagnosis, all other potential reasons for the symptoms must be ruled out. Other potential causes include something called a transient ischemic attack or TIA, and a stroke.
Treatment and prevention
The goal of treatment of HM is prevention and symptom management. It will include the use of medications, such as:
anti-nausea/vomiting medications (antiemetics)
pain medications, including narcotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
calcium channel blockers
beta blockers
anti-seizure medications
nasal ketamine
intravenous verapamil
tricyclic antidepressants
Due to the risk of stroke, certain medications are not recommended for people with HM. These include drugs that constrict blood vessels, such as triptans and ergotamines.
To help doctors, it is recommended that people who are affected by HM wear a medical ID bracelet, due to the risk of impaired speech and consciousness during an attack.
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