Currently there are no published studies comparing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of transformed and episodic migraneurs. OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to detect differences in HRQoL between patients with transformed migraine (TM) and episodic migraine (EM). METHODS: This retrospective study examined the HRQoL of transformed and episodic migraneurs of the Jefferson Headache Center during their first visit to the center. Data collected included the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaires as well as demographic information. A t-test with Bonferroni correction was used to test for significant differences in the SF-36 domains between the groups. RESULTS: To date, data has been collected on 62 patients, 31 from each group. There were no significant differences with respect to gender, race, age or the number of comorbid conditions between groups. Over the last 90 days prior to their first visit, patients with TM reported having a headache on an average of 77 days compared to EM patients who averaged 18 days with headache (p<0.05). Compared to EM patients, patients with TM had statistically and clinically significant (>5 point difference) lower mean scores on the mental component summary score as well as on the general health, vitality, social functioning and role emotional domains of the SF-36 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this interim analysis suggest that TM patients have a lower quality of life than patients with EM.