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Contents lists available at Vilnius University Press
Acta medica Lituanica ISSN 1392-0138 eISSN 2029-4174
2021. Vol. 28. No 1, pp. 145–152 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/Amed.2021.28.1.19
De novo Migraine with Aura in the Tird
Trimester of Pregnancy: A Case Report and
Literature review
Elena Paškevičiūtė*
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1847-5640
Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
Diana Bužinskienė
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4522-0600
Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
Centre of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania
Kristina Ryliškienė
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9596-1733
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
Abstract. Background: Among all headache disorders, migraine has the highest prevalence during gestation.
Te majority of migraineurs experience improvement during pregnancy, but a few may experience migraine for
the frst time. Tis poses a diagnostic challenge in the diferential diagnosis between primary and life-threaten-
ing secondary headache disorders. Because pregnancy itself is an independent risk factor for secondary head-
ache disorders, it is mandatory to exclude these conditions in order to diagnose migraine. Tere is a large body
of literature about pre-existing migraine course during pregnancy and its link with adverse pregnancy outcomes,
but there are no studies examining these aspects among women with new-onset migraine during pregnancy.
Case report. A 31-year-old female at 33 weeks of gestation (gravida 2, para 2) was referred to the neurolo-
gist eds disturbances, which were followed by pressing severe headache, rated as 8 out of 10 on a numeric rat-
ing scale and accompanied by dizziness. Te headache lasted for one day, and dizziness continued to the fol-
lowing day. Te patient was investigated for a secondary headache disorder, but laboratory and neuroimaging
results were unremarkable. A migraine with aura was diagnosed. Te patient was advised to keep a consistent
sleep schedule, maintain regular low physical activity, eat regularly and take magnesium supplementation.
Te patient was informed about a safe treatment approach in case of an acute attack. At 40 weeks of gestation
the patient delivered female newborn, weighing 3750g, with Apgar scores of 8 and 9 (due to a nuchal cord).
Te postpartum period was uneventful. During the subsequent 4 years, the patient did not experience any
recurrent migraine attacks and had no pregnancies.
Conclusion. In order to diagnose a migraine during pregnancy, exclusion of secondary headache disorders
is mandatory. Pregnant migraineur should be regularly monitored for adverse birth outcomes. It is essential
to educate patients, provide information about the safe treatment of migraine attacks, and explain nonphar-
macological prevention and supplementation benefts.
Keywords: Migraine with aura; Pregnancy; Secondary headache disorder; Acute headache; Migraine man-
agement
Received: 26/03/2021. Revised: 28/04/2021. Accepted: 28/04/2021
Copyright © 2021 Elena Paškevičiūtė, Diana Bužinskienė, Kristina Ryliškienė. Published by Vilnius University Press. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms
of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
* Corresponding author: Elena Paškevičiūtė, Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, M. K Čiurlionio str. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania.
E-mail: elena.paskeviciute@mf.stud.vu.lt