Cohort Study | Pre-pregnancy migraine linked to a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Summary: This study investigated the relationship between migraine and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Researchers examined data from the Nurses’ Health Study II, which included 30,555 pregnancies from 19,694 women. Pre-pregnancy migraine was associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia. Migraine with aura was associated with a higher preeclampsia risk than migraine without aura. However, migraine was not associated with low birth weight or gestational diabetes mellitus. The study suggests that migraine history, and to a lesser extent, migraine phenotype, could be useful in identifying women at risk of pregnancy complications. Regular aspirin use prior to pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of preterm delivery for women with migraine, but randomized trials are needed to evaluate this hypothesis.

Article: Prepregnancy Migraine, Migraine Phenotype, and Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes – Neurology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

News Release: Migraine associated with increased risk for pregnancy complications – Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Commentary: Prepregnancy Migraine Tied to Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes – HealthDay