[Ultrasound studies of blood flow velocity in main cranial arteries in idiopathic headaches].

The published results of transcranial Doppler (TCD) studies of main cerebral arteries, performed in the patients with idiopathic headaches, especially with migraine, are controversial. Some authors could not find any changes, others observed increased blood flow. These results were, however, based on single examination, and the comparison on mean velocities calculated for the whole groups. In the present study the authors decided to perform a series of TCD studies in each patient and to analyse the individual cases. It was found that blood flow velocity in the main cerebral arteries in chronic tension-type headache (8 cases) and cluster headache (7 cases) showed normal values, established for 35 healthy subjects. In migraine without aura (20 cases) and with aura (11 cases) a considerable increase (above 30%) in cerebral blood flow was found in some studies. In around 50% of the cases increased blood flow in anterior and middle cerebral arteries was found unilaterally. The authors believe that the above findings might be specific for migraine and reflect transient vasoconstriction of the vessels that, on the other head, may be the premonitory laboratory sign of the attack.