Modern Neurology Training Is Failing Outpatients.

This Viewpoint describes the pressure on neurology residents to pursue subspecialty training in a fellowship program even though the need for general neurologists is sizable and increasing.

Dystonia phenomenology and treatment response in migraine.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the phenomenology of cervical dystonia (CD) in patients with migraine and the effect of its treatment on migraine frequency. BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies demonstrate that treatment of CD with botulinum toxin in those with migraine can improve both conditions. However, the phenomenology of CD in the setting of migraine has not been formally described. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, descriptive, retrospective case series of patients with a verified diagnosis of migraine who were referred to our movement disorder center for evaluation of co-existing, untreated CD. Patient demographics, characteristics of migraine and CD, and effects of cervical onabotulinumtoxinA (BoTNA) injections were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 58 patients with comorbid CD and migraine. The majority were female (51/58 [88%]) and migraine preceded CD in 72% (38/53) of patients by a mean (range) of 16.0 (0-36) years. Nearly all the patients had laterocollis (57/58) and 60% (35/58) had concurrent torticollis. Migraine was found to be both ipsilateral and contralateral to the dystonia in a comparable proportion of patients (11/52 [21%] vs. 15/52 [28%]). There was no significant relationship between migraine frequency and dystonia severity. Treatment of CD with BoTNA reduced migraine frequency in most patients (15/26 [58%] at 3 months and 10/16 [63%] at 12 months). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, migraine often preceded dystonia symptoms and laterocollis was the most described dystonia phenotype. The lateralization and severity/frequency of these two disorders were unrelated, but dystonic movements were a common migraine trigger. We corroborated previous reports that cervical BoTNA injections reduced migraine frequency. Providers treating patients with migraine and neck pain who are not fully responding to typical therapies should screen for possible CD as a confounding factor, which when treated can reduce migraine frequency.

Migraine in Women.

Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting women disproportionally at a rate of 3:1. Prior to puberty, boys and girls are equally affected, but the female preponderance emerges after puberty. Migraine pathophysiology is not fully understood, and although the hormonal effect of estrogen is significant, other factors are at play. This article will focus on the hormonal influence on migraine in women. Here we review our most recent understanding of migraine and menstrual migraine, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment strategies for this challenging disorder, as well as migraine during pregnancy, postpartum period, breastfeeding, perimenopause, and menopause. We also review the risks and benefits of exogenous hormone use in this population and discuss stroke risk in women with migraine aura. By understanding these aspects of migraine in women, we hope to arm practitioners with the knowledge and tools to help guide treatment of this debilitating disorder in this large population.