Objective: To study the state of cerebral hemodynamics during drug-induced relief of migraine attacks in patients. 

Materials and metods: Fifty-seven young patients with migraine were examined (32 patients with migraine without aura, 25 patients with migraine with aura). The time-averaged maximum blood flow velocity (TAMX) and resistance indices (RI) were measured in the internal carotid arteries (ICA), middle cerebral arteries (MCA), external carotid arteries (ECA), and vertebral arteries (VA). All patients were prescribed sumatriptan orally at a dose of 50 mg (1 tablet) during an attack.

Results: Increased TAMX values in the MCA and decreased RI values were noted in Group 1. In patients of Group 2, TAMX values in the MCA and VA and RI values in the MCA were increased. Asymmetry in flow velocity in the MCA and VA and a decrease in RI values in the ECA were also noted. Normalization of RI values in the ECA was observed with sumatriptan administration.

Conclusions: 1. Cerebral hemodynamics in the middle cerebral arteries during a migraine attack is characterized by a pattern of vasospasm in migraine without aura and a pattern of difficult perfusion in migraine with aura.

2. A characteristic feature of hemodynamics during a migraine attack is excessive blood filling of the external carotid arteries.

3. The positive effect of imigran during a migraine attack is manifested not only in the relief of pain, but also in the stabilization of cerebral hemodynamics in the form of optimization of blood flow in the ECA and normalization of peripheral resistance indices in the MCA.