Koma bei familiarer hemiplegischer Migrane

We describe a family suffering from a rare and hazardous type of migraine, characterised by episodes of coma, fever and neurological deficits. Severe attacks with life-threatening brain oedema can be precipitated by minor head trauma, vigorous work and angiography. New aspects of pathophysiology are discussed and from looking at this family and the literature we postulate that this syndrome should be included in differential diagnosis of coma and that angiography should be avoided in such patients.