Migraine-triggered epilepsy.

Eight young adult patients are reported, referred because of generalized tonic-clonic seizures with unsatisfactory treatment response. All of them had migraine. The major convulsions were preceded by a typical visual prodroma in 6 out of 8 patients, and a full-blown migraine attack followed the convulsion in all patients. Clinical findings were unremarkable, the EEG was mostly normal or slightly abnormal without typical paroxysmal findings, and CT scan and MRI were normal. All patients also had independent migraine attacks without convulsions; all of them had a positive family history of migraine. The response to antimigrainous and/or antiepileptic medication was sluggish or disappointing in most cases. A correction of the patient's life style proved to be the most effective approach.