Classic and common migraine suggestive clinical evidence of two separate entities.

To help clarify whether or not classic migraine (C1M) and common migraine (CoM) should be considered as a single entity, we compared the clinical features of a group of C1M patients with those of a group of CoM patients. Significant differences between the two forms of migraine were found in the following areas: age distribution of sufferers; family history of migraine, ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and coronary heart disease; age at onset; frequency of attacks; duration, location, and severity of pain; accompanying symptoms; and, evolution during weekends, menstruation, pregnancy, and puerperium. Our comparative investigation suggests that CIM and CoM are more distinct than previously considered.