Sixty-eight patients undergoing surgical treatment of varicose veins who also suffered from recurrent headache were studied. In 23 patients this symptom was classified as migraine and in 45 as other headaches. In each group four aspects of headache (frequency, severity, duration, and associated disturbances) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire before and between twelve and eight een months after surgical treatment of varicose veins. In migraine there were reductions in scores for frequency, p < 0.01; severity, p < 0.01; duration, p < 0.01; associated disturbances, p<0.01; and in total score, p<0.01. In other headaches there were reductions in scores for frquency, p < 0.001; severity, p < 0.001; du ration, p < 0.001; associated disturbances, p < 0.01; and in total score, p < 0.001. Varicose veins and migraine are each associated with impaired regional blood flow. The results of the present study suggest that relief of recurrent headache following surgical treatment of varicose veins may be due to effects of improved blood rheology in the microcirculation on cerebral function.
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