Headaches and von willebrand disease (original) (raw)

Data from observational studies has shown a relationship of high levels of Von Wille brand factor (VWF) with migraines. We hypothesized that patients with VonWillebrand disease have lower rates of migraine. The aim of this analysis was to determine the rates of migraine in patients with Von Wille brand disease and to identify an association of Von Wille brand disease with migraines. Patients (n =394) with Von Wille brand disease were identified from the hospital database. A careful review of the patients' clinical records was carried out to authenticate the Von Wille brand disease. Analyses were based on clinic visits for headaches as defined by International Headache Society criteria during a follow up of 25 years (1985 -2010). Samples of 197 patients were finalized for which random age and sex matched controls were selected. Out of 197 patients (mean age 43.7 ± 17.5 years) with VoWille brand disease, 44 (22 %) were diagnosed with headaches and 37 (84%) of them suffered from migraines, while only 7 (3.5%) of the controls had headaches, all of them had migraine headaches. About 29 (15%) patients in Von Wille brand disease group were classified as migraine without aura and 8 (4%) had migraine with aura. VWD is an independent risk factor for headaches. (OR 7.11, 95% CI 3.10 -16.34, p = 0.001).Our analysis suggests that there is a very strong association of Von Wille brand disease with migraines. We hypothesize that it's the fluctuating factor levels that causes migraines and normalization of the VWF levels might protect this patient population from headaches, which can be quite debilitating in some patients.