Hougaard A, et al. - Given a possible association of migraine with aura with endothelial dysfunction and heightened stroke risk, researchers here examined whether intravenously infused endothelin-1 (ET-1), an endogenous, potent vasoconstrictor peptide discharged from the vascular endothelium, would provoke migraine aura and migraine headache in migraine patients with aura. Fourteen patients with migraine with typical aura were administered high-dose (8 ng/kg/minutes for 20 minutes) intravenous ET-1 in this study with two-way crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind design. During or up to 24 hours following the ET-1 infusions, migraine aura symptoms or migraine headaches did not occur in any patient. This suggests no mediatory role of procedures or conditions involving vascular irritation mediated by ET-1 in the provocation of migraine aura.