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Mi Ji Lee

Seoul National University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Mi Ji Lee's research lab specializes in cerebrovascular and neurological disorders, with a focus on stroke, migraine, and small vessel disease in the context of aging and neurodegeneration. The lab investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying conditions such as hypercoagulability in stroke patients with cancer, blood-brain barrier disruption in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), and the synergistic impact of amyloid burden and white matter hyperintensities on cognitive decline in subjective cognitive impairment. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques—including resting-state fMRI, amyloid PET, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI—the lab aims to identify biomarkers and improve early diagnosis and clinical management of neurological diseases.

cerebrovascular diseasemigraineneuroimaging biomarkersblood-brain barrieramyloid burden

Research Overview

Papers
238
Total Citations
5,675
Papers (5y)
72
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
72total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
954total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|128 citations·2016
Hypercoagulability and Mortality of Patients with Stroke and Active Cancer: The OASIS-CANCER Study
Mi Ji Lee, Jong‐Won Chung, Myung‐Ju Ahn, Seonwoo Kim, Jin Myoung Seok, Hye Min Jang, Gyeong‐Moon Kim, Chin‐Sang Chung, Kwang Ho Lee, Oh Young Bang
SJR Q1Journal of StrokeOA

Hypercoagulability is associated with poor survival after stroke in patients with active cancer. Effective correction of hypercoagulability may play a protective role for survival in these patients.

Internal MedicineMedicine
2
Article|123 citations·2019
Increased connectivity of pain matrix in chronic migraine: a resting-state functional MRI study
Mi Ji Lee, Bo‐yong Park, Soohyun Cho, Sung Tae Kim, Hyunjin Park, Chin‐Sang Chung
SJR Q1The Journal of Headache and PainOA

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity in patients with chronic migraine (CM) using a data-driven method. METHODS: We prospectively recruited patients with either episodic migraine (EM) or CM aged 18-60 years who visited the headache clinic of the Samsung Medical Center from July 2016 to December 2017. All patients underwent 3 T MRI using an identical scanner. Patients were considered interictal if they did not have a migraine headache at the day and ± 1

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
3
Article|109 citations·2017
Blood–brain barrier breakdown in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: Implications for pathophysiology and diagnosis
Mi Ji Lee, Jihoon Cha, Hyun Ah Choi, Sook‐Young Woo, Seonwoo Kim, Shuu‐Jiun Wang, Chin‐Sang Chung
SJR Q1Annals of Neurology

OBJECTIVE: Diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is currently based on luminographic findings of vasoconstriction. In addition to vasoconstriction, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown has been postulated as a central mechanism of RCVS. Our aim was to document BBB breakdown in patients with RCVS and its role for the pathophysiology-based diagnosis of RCVS. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 72 consecutive patients with thunderclap headache who did not have aneurys

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
4
Article|103 citations·2014
Synergistic Effects of Ischemia and β-Amyloid Burden on Cognitive Decline in Patients With Subcortical Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mi Ji Lee, Sang Won Seo, Duk L. Na, Changsoo Kim, Jae Hyun Park, Geon Ha Kim, Chi Hun Kim, Young Noh, Hanna Cho, Han Jo Kim, Cindy W. Yoon, Byoung Seok Ye
SJR Q1JAMA PsychiatryOA

Most patients with svMCI do not exhibit substantial amyloid burden, and CVD does not increase β-amyloid burden as measured by amyloid imaging. However, in patients with svMCI, amyloid burden and white matter hyperintensity act synergistically to impair visuospatial function. Therefore, our findings highlight the need for accurate biomarkers, including neuroimaging tools, for early diagnosis and the need to relate these biomarkers to cognitive measurements for effective use in the clinical settin

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
5
Article|93 citations·2018
Feasibility of serum CGRP measurement as a biomarker of chronic migraine: a critical reappraisal
Mi Ji Lee, Sook-Yeon Lee, Soohyun Cho, Eun‐Suk Kang, Chin‐Sang Chung
SJR Q1The Journal of Headache and PainOA

Serum CGRP concentration may not be a feasible biomarker for chronic migraine. Further validation is necessary before CGRP can be used in the clinical practice.

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
6
Article|90 citations·2019
Increased suicidality in patients with cluster headache
Mi Ji Lee, Soo‐Jin Cho, Jeong Wook Park, Min Kyung Chu, Heui‐Soo Moon, Pil‐Wook Chung, Jae Myun Chung, Jong‐Hee Sohn, Byung‐Kun Kim, Byung‐Su Kim, Soo Kyoung Kim, Tae-Jin Song
SJR Q1Cephalalgia

Objective To investigate suicidality related to cluster headache and factors associated with increased suicidality in cluster headache patients. Methods In this multicenter study, 193 cluster headache patients were recruited between September 2016 and August 2018. Patients were asked about their suicidality during and between attacks, specifically about passive suicidal ideation, active suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analys

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
7
Review|65 citations·2016
The Migraine–Stroke Connection
Mi Ji Lee, Chungbin Lee, Chin‐Sang Chung
SJR Q1Journal of StrokeOA

Migraine and stroke are common neurovascular disorders which share underlying physiological processes. Increased risks of ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and subclinical ischemic lesions have been consistently found in migraineurs. Three possible associations are suggested. One is that underlying pathophysiology of migraine can lead to ischemic stroke. Second, common comorbidities between migraine and stroke can be present. Lastly, some syndromes can manifest with both migraine-like headach

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
8
Article|57 citations·2020
Machine learning-based automated classification of headache disorders using patient-reported questionnaires
Junmo Kwon, Hyebin Lee, Soohyun Cho, Chin‐Sang Chung, Mi Ji Lee, Hyunjin Park
SJR Q1Scientific ReportsOA

Classification of headache disorders is dependent on a subjective self-report from patients and its interpretation by physicians. We aimed to apply objective data-driven machine learning approaches to analyze patient-reported symptoms and test the feasibility of the automated classification of headache disorders. The self-report data of 2162 patients were analyzed. Headache disorders were merged into five major entities. The patients were divided into training (n = 1286) and test (n = 876) cohor

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
9
Review|53 citations·2023
Epidemiology, burden and clinical spectrum of cluster headache: a global update
Seung Ae Kim, Soyoun Choi, Michelle Sojung Youn, Patricia Pozo‐Rosich, Mi Ji Lee
SJR Q1CephalalgiaOA

BACKGROUND: This narrative review aims to broaden our understanding of the epidemiology, burden and clinical spectrum of cluster headache based on updated findings with a global perspective. METHODS: We conducted a literature search on the following topics: (a) epidemiology; (b) burden: quality of life, disability, economic burden, job-related burden and suicidality; and (c) clinical spectrum: male predominance and its changes, age, pre-cluster and pre-attack symptoms, aura, post-drome, attack c

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
10
Article|47 citations·2019
Dynamic functional connectivity of the migraine brain: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Mi Ji Lee, Bo‐yong Park, Soohyun Cho, Hyunjin Park, Sungtae Kim, Chin‐Sang Chung
SJR Q1Pain

Migraine headache is an episodic phenomenon, and patients with episodic migraine have ictal (headache), peri-ictal (premonitory, aura, and postdrome), and interictal (asymptomatic) phases. We aimed to find the functional characteristics of the migraine brain regardless of headache phase using dynamic functional connectivity analysis. We prospectively recruited 50 patients with migraine and 50 age- and sex-matched controls. All subjects underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imag

Cognitive NeuroscienceNeuroscience
11
Article|46 citations·2014
Role of Statin in Atrial Fibrillation-Related Stroke: An Angiographic Study for Collateral Flow
Mi Ji Lee, Oh Young Bang, Suk Jae Kim, Gyeong Moon Kim, Chin Sang Chung, Kwang Ho Lee, Bruce Ovbiagele, David S. Liebeskind, Jeffrey L. Saver, for the UCLA-Samsung Stroke Collaborators
SJR Q2Cerebrovascular Diseases

BACKGROUND: Currently, intensive lipid lowering is recommended in patients with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. However, the role of statin in cardioembolic stroke is unclear. We investigated the association of statin with pretreatment collateral status in cardioembolic stroke. METHODS: A collaborative study from two stroke centers in distinct geographic regions included consecutive patients with acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction due to atrial fibrillati

SurgeryMedicine
12
Article|46 citations·2022
Real-world efficacy of galcanezumab for the treatment of migraine in Korean patients
Soonwook Kwon, Young‐Eun Gil, Mi Ji Lee
SJR Q1Cephalalgia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide real-world data on the effectiveness of an anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibody administered for treating migraine in Korean patients. METHODS: We prospectively recruited patients with migraine who received galcanezumab treatment at a single university hospital from June 2020 to April 2021. The treatment response was assessed after three consecutive monthly injections. A 50% responder rate was evaluated based on ≥50% reduction in

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
13
Article|40 citations·2016
Factors associated with favorable outcome in botulinum toxin A treatment for chronic migraine: A clinic-based prospective study
Mi Ji Lee, Chungbin Lee, Hanna Choi, Chin‐Sang Chung
SJR Q1Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
14
Article|40 citations·2016
Caffeine discontinuation improves acute migraine treatment: a prospective clinic-based study
Mi Ji Lee, Hyun Ah Choi, Hanna Choi, Chin‐Sang Chung
SJR Q1The Journal of Headache and PainOA

BACKGROUND: Caffeine has both excitatory and vasoconstrictive effects on central nervous system. Caffeine use might be associated with development and chronification of migraine. We aimed to evaluate the effect of caffeine cessation on the acute treatment of migraine. METHODS: We prospectively recruited migraine patients who consumed caffeine drinks daily and instructed them to discontinue their caffeine intake. Triptans were prescribed for acute treatment. Patients were followed up after at lea

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
15
Article|37 citations·2019
Cerebrovascular reactivity as a determinant of deep white matter hyperintensities in migraine
Mi Ji Lee, Bo‐yong Park, Soohyun Cho, Hyunjin Park, Chin‐Sang Chung
SJR Q1Neurology

In this study, we found a migraine-specific association between a reduced CVR to apnea and increased number of deep WMHs in healthy, nonelderly patients with migraine. A dysfunctional vascular response to apnea may predispose migraineurs to an increased risk of WMHs.

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine

Research Areas

Psychiatry and Mental healthPulmonary and Respiratory MedicineNeurologyEpidemiologySurgeryCognitive Neuroscience

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