Sporadic Hemiplegic Migraine

Sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM) is a form of hemiplegic migraine headache isolated cases of which are observed. It is a rare disease. It is considered to be a separate type of migraine.

Presentation

Sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM) has clinical symptoms identical to familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) and distinct from migraine with aura. By definition the neurodeficits are supposed to be reversible. However, some cases with permanent neurological deficits have also been noted.

Cause

CACNA1A, ATP1A2 and SCNA1 appear to be the genes that cause the condition of sporadic hemiplegic migraine.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic criteria require motor symptoms and at least one visual, sensory, or speech symptom, resembling basilar migraine. They may also be associated with cerebellar signs.

Investigations

MRI features can be suggestive of cortical hyper intensity and edema.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnoses can be:

• Todd's paresis
• Stroke
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Metabolic disorders
• Inherited disorders such as mitochondrial myopathy
• Functional neurological disorder

Treatment

Epidemiology

Prevalence is estimated to be 0.005%. The age of onset has been found to be under 15 years in 40% of cases while it is between 10 and 14 years in one third of the cases. Females outnumber males, 4 to 1. Only 3% have attacks after age 52.