Effect of Catheter Ablation on Clinical Course of Migraine in AF Patients With or Without Previous History of Migraine
Effect of Catheter Ablation on Clinical Course of Migraine in AF Patients With or Without Previous History of Migraine
The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the effect of catheter ablation on
 incidence, prevalence and disease-severity of migraine in AF patients undergoing ablation,
 with or without a history of migraine.
Migraine, a neurovascular disorder affecting approximately 12% of world population, is
 characterized by recurrent attacks of incapacitating headache associated with photophobia,
 phonophobia, nausea and vomiting (1). Although the pathogenesis of migraine is not clearly
 understood yet, it has been widely accepted as being caused by cerebral vasodilatation,
 abnormal neurological firings and/or neurogenic dural inflammation (1). Additionally, recent
 studies have demonstrated an association between migraine with aura and intracardiac shunting
 by a patent foramen ovale (PFO) leading to a hypothesis that paradoxical brain embolism of
 platelets and other undefined chemical substances can play a causal role in migraine with
 aura (2).

 Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) has been shown to be a promising treatment for
 cardiac arrhythmias. During catheter ablation, trans-septal puncture (TSP) is routinely
 performed to gain access to the left heart. TSP causes an iatrogenic atrial septal defect
 (ASD) with a transient right-to-left shunt which can predispose patients to stroke and
 migraine (3). In two different studies, with 571 and 183 patients in whom TSP was performed,
 the incidence of migraine was 0.5% and 2.2% respectively and the migraine was transient and
 resolved without any sequelae (2, 3). In separate studies, complete resolution or improvement
 of migraine was noticed with the ASD/PFO closure (4). Additional case-studies have also
 reported AF occurring during episodes of migraine with aura where the cardiac rhythm was
 normal between the episodes (5). All these reports evidently demonstrate an association
 between AF, TSP during RFCA and migraine, but fail to clearly define the nature of it. It is
 not yet understood whether a successful catheter ablation of AF has any impact on the natural
 course of pre-existing or newly-occurring migraine. This study aims at exploring the
 relationship between AF and migraine and to evaluate if an effective ablation therapy for AF
 influences the incidence and clinical presentation of migraine in patients with or without a
 previous history.

 Several isolated case-studies have reported improvement in the frequency and severity of
 migraine during treatment with Coumadin (6, 7). Coumadin is routinely prescribed to patients
 undergoing RFCA to prevent thrombo-embolic events. Our study would further explore the impact
 of therapeutic Coumadin on the prevalence and clinical course of migraine in patients with a
 previous history.

 Hypothesis: Catheter ablation affects the disease course of migraine in AF patients with or
 without a previous history of migraine.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age: 18-75 years

 -  AF patients undergoing RFCA

 -  Ability to distinguish migraine attacks as discrete from other headaches (i.e.,
 tension-headache)

 -  Ability to read, comprehend, and legibly and reliably record information

 -  Ability to provide written, informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Uncontrollable hypertension

 -  History of stroke, TIA or epilepsy

 -  Bleeding disorder

 -  Hypersensitivity, allergy or contraindications to the use of NSAIDs, Triptans, Aspirin
 or Warfarin

 -  Contraindication to undergoing an MRI