Lamotrigine prophylaxis is associated with reduced aura frequency in patients with burdensome migraine aura : a retrospective observational study
(2026) In Frontiers in Neurology 17.- Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Migraine aura affects approximately one-third of migraine patients. In some individuals, aura remains highly disabling due to the lack of effective, targeted treatment options. This study evaluates the effectiveness and long-term management of lamotrigine (LTG) in a clinical Cohort specifically burdened by frequent or severe aura.
METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a neurology clinic in Lund, Sweden, including 81 patients treated between 2014 and 2022. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving ≥50% reduction in monthly aura days (MADs) following LTG prophylaxis.
RESULTS: A total of 81 patients were included in the study. A reduction in mean MADs from 6.9 ± 7.5... (More)
INTRODUCTION: Migraine aura affects approximately one-third of migraine patients. In some individuals, aura remains highly disabling due to the lack of effective, targeted treatment options. This study evaluates the effectiveness and long-term management of lamotrigine (LTG) in a clinical Cohort specifically burdened by frequent or severe aura.
METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a neurology clinic in Lund, Sweden, including 81 patients treated between 2014 and 2022. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving ≥50% reduction in monthly aura days (MADs) following LTG prophylaxis.
RESULTS: A total of 81 patients were included in the study. A reduction in mean MADs from 6.9 ± 7.5 days/month to 1.4 ± 3.7 was observed following LTG initiation, with 79.7% mean reduction (p < 0.001). The overall response rate was 85.2%. The average dose of LTG was 149.6 mg ± 70.5. Twenty-nine patients had adverse events (AE), the most common type was skin changes, and 5 dropped out of the treatment due to AEs.
DISCUSSION: The results indicate that LTG is associated with a reduction in aura frequency and is well-tolerated in patients whose migraine burden is dominated by the aura phase. LTG is a preventive option worthy of further evaluation in controlled trials.
(Less)
- author
- Uzun, Sena
LU
; Frejvall, Ulf
; Karatas, Hulya
; Petersson, Per
LU
and Sahin, Gürdal
LU
- organization
-
- Integrative Neurophysiology (research group)
- MultiPark: Multidisciplinary research on neurodegenerative diseases
- Regeneration in Movement Disorders (research group)
- Neurology, Lund
- LU Profile Area: Natural and Artificial Cognition
- LUCC: Lund University Cancer Centre
- Neuronano Research Center (NRC) (research group)
- eSSENCE: The e-Science Collaboration
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Frontiers in Neurology
- volume
- 17
- article number
- 1863747
- publisher
- Frontiers Media S. A.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105047509437
- pmid:42591364
- ISSN
- 1664-2295
- DOI
- 10.3389/fneur.2026.1863747
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Copyright © 2026 Uzun, Frejvall, Karatas, Petersson and Sahin.
- id
- 60628d13-b9b2-45ab-ae3f-bee686bb33d1
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-22 11:03:13
- date last changed
- 2026-09-23 04:00:48
@article{60628d13-b9b2-45ab-ae3f-bee686bb33d1,
abstract = {{<p>INTRODUCTION: Migraine aura affects approximately one-third of migraine patients. In some individuals, aura remains highly disabling due to the lack of effective, targeted treatment options. This study evaluates the effectiveness and long-term management of lamotrigine (LTG) in a clinical Cohort specifically burdened by frequent or severe aura.</p><p>METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a neurology clinic in Lund, Sweden, including 81 patients treated between 2014 and 2022. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving ≥50% reduction in monthly aura days (MADs) following LTG prophylaxis.</p><p>RESULTS: A total of 81 patients were included in the study. A reduction in mean MADs from 6.9 ± 7.5 days/month to 1.4 ± 3.7 was observed following LTG initiation, with 79.7% mean reduction (p < 0.001). The overall response rate was 85.2%. The average dose of LTG was 149.6 mg ± 70.5. Twenty-nine patients had adverse events (AE), the most common type was skin changes, and 5 dropped out of the treatment due to AEs.</p><p>DISCUSSION: The results indicate that LTG is associated with a reduction in aura frequency and is well-tolerated in patients whose migraine burden is dominated by the aura phase. LTG is a preventive option worthy of further evaluation in controlled trials.</p>}},
author = {{Uzun, Sena and Frejvall, Ulf and Karatas, Hulya and Petersson, Per and Sahin, Gürdal}},
issn = {{1664-2295}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
series = {{Frontiers in Neurology}},
title = {{Lamotrigine prophylaxis is associated with reduced aura frequency in patients with burdensome migraine aura : a retrospective observational study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2026.1863747}},
doi = {{10.3389/fneur.2026.1863747}},
volume = {{17}},
year = {{2026}},
}