[Focal migraine attacks without headaches (author's transl)].

The migraine without headaches is a special form of focal migraine, a migraine accompagnée without headaches. The diagnostic classification of the transient focal disturbances is made possible by careful analysis of the attacks. This type of attack starts in a localized manner (primarily in the ophthalmic area), develops corresponding to the cortical representation, and is not always restricted to one vascular area. Typical is the slow spread of symptoms over a period of ten minutes, on the average. This allows a differentiation from transient ischemic attacks or focal epilepsy. The diagnosis is supported by hereditary factors, early onset of manifestation and change of the side of focal symptoms (in 11 of 16 patients). Of 409 migraine patients, 16 were such cases, corresponding to an occurrence of 4%. There were no signs of symptomatic etiology for these transient focal disturbances.