Background: Migraine is associated with atherosclerosis and white matter hyperintensities. This study
aims to evaluate the relationship between white matter hyperintensities and carotid intima-media
thickness in patients who have migraines without auras. Methods: The study enrolled 105 patients;
of these, 43 patients had migraine without white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and 32 had migraine
with WMH. There were also 30 healthy control subjects. The patients were divided into two groups
according to whether or not they had WMHs on their brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All
subjects, including the control group, underwent brain MRI and carotid ultrasonographic examination
to evaluate WMH and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), respectively. Results: The groups did
not differ with regard to demographics and clinical findings. The CIMT was significantly greater in
patients who had migraine without WMH than in the control group (p < 0.001) and in those who had
migraine with WMH than in those who had migraine without WMH (p = 0.004)
Conclusion: CIMT values were higher in migraine patients with WMH than in migraine patients without
WMH. Migraine patients with WMH may be at a greater risk of developing future vascular events.