The Relationship Between the Migraine and Obstructive Nasal Pathologies

Abstract

Objectives: Nasal obstruction may cause headache related with the sinusitis, mucosal contact points and accompanying symptom of snoring. Although migraine is a common disabling primary headache disorder, much about the cause of migraines isn't understood. The relationship of the obstructive nasal pathologies and migraine is not clear. The aim of this this study was to test the hypothesis for migraine of sino-rhinogenic origin. Methods: A prospective, randomized clinical study was conducted among 130 consecutive patients with migraine and 126 healthy control subjects at a tertiary medical center. The two groups were compared in terms of the obstructive nasal pathologies and the correlation analysis between the grades and sides of pain and nasal pathologies are performed in the migraine group. Results: The frequency (41/130, 17/126; p=0,006) and the grade (mean 1,9/0,9; p= 0,002) of the nasal septum deviation (NSD) were significantly higher in migraine group than controls. There was also significant differences between the groups, in terms of the frequency and the grade of inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) (49/130, 25/126; p=0,01 and 1,2/0,8; p=0,03). There was a significant correlation between the severity of pain and the grade of NSD and ITH (p=0,007; 0,004, respectively) There was no significant correlation between the side of obstructive nasal pathology and dominant side of the pain (p=0,889; p=0,567, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed the increased obstructive nasal pathologies in patients with migraine. The patients who are clinically evaluated for migraine should receive comprehensive sino-rhinological examination.