Skip Navigation
Text Size: A  A  A
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)


Other names people use for this condition
  • Bickerstaff migraine
  • Basilar artery migraine
  • Brainstem migraine
  • Vertebrobasilar migraine
Home > Rare Diseases and Related Terms > Basilar migraine



Basilar migraine
ORDR lists rare diseases for information purposes only and does not guarantee that a condition is rare. Read more
The links on this page may take you to sites outside of the NIH. (See Disclaimer for details.)
Basilar migraine is a type of migraine headache with aura accompanied by neurological symptoms which begin either in the base of the brain (the brainstem) or from both sides of the brain (both cerebral hemispheres) at the same time.[1] The most common symptoms are dizziness and vertigo, but symptoms may also include headache accompanied by ataxia, tinnitus, decreased hearing, nausea and vomiting, dysarthria, diplopia (blurred or double vision), loss of balance, bilateral paresthesias or paresis, altered consciousness, syncope, and, sometimes loss of consciousness.[2] Migraines, in general, are complex genetic disorders involving environmental factors. The nerves are believed to play a role in the cause of basilar migraines.[1] A familial form has been linked to mutations in the ATP1A2 gene.[3] While basilar migraines are more common in adolescent girls and young women, they occur in all age groups.[1][2] Treatment may involve the combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications with and an antiemetic phenothiazine. More recently, triptans, once contraindicated due to their propensity to constrict blood vessels, have been found to relieve these headaches without adverse effects.[1]


References
  1. Basilar-Type Migraine. American Headache Society. 2011 Available at: http://www.achenet.org/resources/basilartype_migraine/. Accessed July 5, 2012.
  2. Dafer RM. Migraine Variants: Basilar Migraine. Medscape Reference. March 29, 2012 Available at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1142731-overview#aw2aab6b6. Accessed July 5, 2012.
  3. Migraine, Familial Hemiplegic, 2. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). March 23, 2012 Available at: http://omim.org/entry/602481. Accessed July 5, 2012.
click to take you to contact us form

Questions & Answers
If you would like to submit a question, Contact GARD
For more information about Basilar migraine click on the boxes below:
More Detailed Information Organizations Services Scientific Conferences Clinical Trials & Research
 
More Detailed Information (Found 5 resources)
Links where you can find more general information, comprehensive resources, selected full text journal articles, and news updates. Disclaimer

  • General

    • MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
    • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. Click on the link to view this information. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
    • The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
    • The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Basilar migraine. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.
    • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Basilar migraine. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
 Organizations Providing General Support | Social Networking Websites
Organizations (Found 8 resources)
Groups providing a wide range of services, supportive resources, and information. Disclaimer
 
Services (Found 2 resources)
Links to Web sites that offer services, such as tools to locate specialists, specialty clinics, genetic services, and genetic testing laboratories. Disclaimer

    • Many individuals want to know about healthcare professionals or researchers who have knowledge of their conditions. When a condition is rare, it can be difficult to find someone who has seen many cases. Although there is no list of experts in rare diseases, GARD's How to Find an Expert fact sheet provides several ways to identify healthcare professionals who have experience with a particular condition. Click on the link to access this resource and learn more.

  • Parent Resources

    • The Parent Technical Assistance Center Network provides a list of the Parent Training and Information Centers in each state. These centers are funded by the United States Department of Education to provide early intervention and special education information and training to parents of children with disabilities from birth to age 26. Click on the link to find the Parent Center in your state.
 
Scientific Conferences (Found 2 resources)
Resources where you can find information on completed and upcoming scientific conferences and programs. Disclaimer

  • Past Conferences

    • RDCRN 3rd Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases, October 2, 2012
      Location: Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, Rockville, MD
      Description: Clinical research in rare diseases presents a number of challenges and unique issues that are not usually considered in the training of clinical investigators through existing training programs. Goals of the conference include: direct instruction of trainees and new investigators in rare disease research methodology; development of a reusable curriculum/syllabus on rare disease research methodology; and stimulation of ideas regarding the unique issues facing investigators engaged in the study of rare diseases.
    • VI International Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICORD 2010): Global Approach to Accessibility in Rare Diseases, Orphan Drugs and Neglected Diseases , March 18, 2010 - March 20, 2010
      Location: Palais Rouge Convention Center, Palermo, Buenos Aires
      Description: For the first time, the VI International Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICORD 2010) was convened in the southern hemisphere in agreement with its aim of globalization of rare diseases research and orphan products development activities.
 
Clinical Trials & Research (Found 3 resources)
Resources where you may find research studies and clinical trials. Disclaimer

    • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are studying or have studied Basilar migraine. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.
    • NIH Clinical Trials and You is a website developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help people learn more about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate.
  • Patient Registry

    • ResearchMatch is a free national research registry designed to bring together patients, healthy volunteers and researchers. Anyone from the United States can register with ResearchMatch, and a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker may register on behalf of a volunteer. Researchers from participating institutions use the ResearchMatch database to search for patients or healthy volunteers who meet the study criteria. Many studies are looking for healthy people of all ages, while some are looking for people with specific illnesses. ResearchMatch was developed by major academic institutions across the country and is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov - government made easy