Clearance of a status aurae migraenalis in response to thrombendarterectomy in a patient with high grade internal carotid artery stenosis

We report a patient with high grade internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis who had frequent migrainous aura-like symptoms for a period of 3 weeks (Latin: status aurae migraenalis). This syndrome has been described previously but it was unclear whether ischaemic damage was associated with it. Using MRI, we demonstrated widely scattered focal laminar cortical infarcts. Importantly, after ICA thrombendarterectomy, the status aurae migraenalis abruptly ceased which supports the concept that high grade ICA stenosis can be the cause of status aurae migraenalis.