Nitroglycerin-induced migraine type headache: Bilaterally visible temporal arteries

A 37-year-old man presented to the emergency department suffering from headache, nausea and vomiting, which had started 1 h previously. He had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease and had been taking isosorbid-5- mononitrate, aspirin and metoprolol for 3 days. His vital signs and physical and detailed neurological examinations were normal except for a new onset of bilaterally visible, palpable and pulsatile temporal arteries. We discuss how nitrates can increase the cerebral and also temporal blood flow, which can rarely be seen with the naked eye, as was observed in this patient. © The Author(s) 2010.