What is the association between migraines with aura and stroke risk in women?
Migraine with aura (but not without aura) is associated with risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in women, especially those under 55 years of age, although the absolute risk is low, and these women appear to have a good poststroke prognosis. Not only do the majority of studies with both men and women support this as a predominantly female issue, but the largest cohorts that have been studied are limited to women. There are not sufficient data to recommend specific approaches to treat migraine with the intention of lowering risk of stroke. Migraine treatment with triptans is contraindicated in patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease or coronary heart as explicitly stated in guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology.