INTRODUCTION Migraine accounts for 10% of patients’ first visits due to neurological reasons in Spain and over half the new visits in headache units (HU) and hence the importance of this pathology. AIMS. The aim of this study is to determine whether there are any differences between migraine patients referred to a general neurology service (GNS) or to a HU.

PATIENTS AND METHODS Two groups of patients with migraine were compared: those sent for the first time to a GNS and the others, who were sent directly to a HU.

RESULTS In a GNS, 10.7% (374 patients) of the overall number of new visits concerned migraines; these were compared with 107 migraines (64%) from the total number of headaches treated for the first time in the HU during the year 2000. The average age and distribution of sexes were similar in both groups. In the group of migraines from the HU there were more requests for CAT/MRI (20%), 77.5% had previous treatment, 71% were given preventive therapy, 51% received triptans and 44.8% needed an examination. In the group of migraines from visits to general service, there were fewer requests for CAT/MRI (14%), only 20% had previous therapy, preventive therapy was started in 45%, 6% received triptans and 25% required an examination.

CONCLUSIONS The group of patients with migraine who were sent to the HU presented a more serious pathology, required more preventive therapies, more triptans and more monitoring than the group of patients with migraine referred to the GNS.

Introducción La migraña representa el 10% de las primeras consultas neurológicas en España, y más de la mitad de las nuevas consultas en las unidades de cefaleas (UC); de ahí la importancia de esta patología.

Objetivo Valorar si existen diferencias entre los pacientes con migraña enviados a una consulta general de neurología (CGN) o a una UC.

Pacientes y métodos Se comparan dos grupos de pacientes con migraña: unos enviados por primera vez a CGN y otros enviados directamente a una UC.

Resultados En la CGN, el 10,7% (374 pacientes) del total de nuevas consultas fueron por migraña; se compararon con 107 migrañas (64%) del total de cefaleas atendidas por primera vez en la UC durante el año 2000. La edad media y el sexo fueron similares en ambos grupos. En el grupo de migrañas de la UC se solicitaron más TAC/RM (20%); el 77,5% de los pacientes llevaba tratamiento previo, se puso tratamiento preventivo al 71%, triptanes al 51% y precisó revisión el 44,8%. En el grupo de migraña de la consulta general se solicitaron menos TAC/RM (14%), sólo el 20% llevaba tratamiento previo, se instauró tratamiento preventivo al 45%, triptanes al 6% y precisó revisión el 25%.

Conclusiones El grupo de pacientes con migraña enviados a la UC presentó una patología más grave, precisó más tratamientos preventivos, mayor utilización de triptanes y mayor control posterior que el grupo de pacientes con migraña enviados a la CGN.