SynthesisHeadache2023
Migraine aura-like episodes following sclerotherapy for varicose veins of the lower extremities-A systematic review.
Synthesis in Headache, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 3 citations in OpenAlex.
- Migraine aura-like episodes following sclerotherapy for varicose veins of the lower extremities-A systematic review.Headache · 2023Pooled it
- Tsunamis hiding in plain sight: spreading depression in clinical neurology.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThis systematic review provides a summary and evaluation of cases of migraine aura-like episodes elicited by sclerotherapy of veins of the lower extremities and discusses possible underlying mechanisms.
backgroundSclerotherapy is a commonly used treatment for varicose veins. Symptoms resembling migraine aura have been reported during and following sclerotherapy of the lower extremities, suggesting that sclerotherapy may elicit migraine aura.
methodsWe searched PubMed for articles reporting neurological complications that were transient and fully reversible following sclerotherapy treatment for varicose veins in the lower limbs. There were no restrictions regarding article language or publication date. Only original studies and case reports were included. Two authors independently reviewed included articles in detail. Data were extracted from each article, including details on symptoms, previous migraine history, sclerotherapy method, and the presence of a right-to-left cardiac shunt in patients. We evaluated whether episodes fulfilled modified International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition, criteria for 1.2 Migraine with aura or 1.5.2 Probable migraine with aura.
resultsThe search yielded 777 articles, 28 of which were included. Twenty-six articles reported 119 episodes of transient neurological symptoms in 34,500 sclerotherapy sessions. Two additional articles reported six episodes of transient neurological symptoms with no specification of the number of sessions. Of the 125 episodes, 119 involved transient visual disturbances, and eight met the modified criteria for Probable migraine with aura. In most episodes (98%), clinical information was insufficient to determine if the criteria were fulfilled.
conclusionsSymptoms that are clinically indistinguishable from migraine with aura attacks may occur following sclerotherapy, although this likely is rare. Microembolization through a right-to-left shunt triggering cortical spreading depolarization is a possible mechanism. Our findings are limited by infrequent specific assessments for neurological complications and a low level of detail in the description of symptoms in the available literature. Future prospective studies are needed to determine this phenomenon's incidence and underlying mechanisms.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.