Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Headache Disorders in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a unique perspective on geriatric headache and a number of novel treatment options that are not well known outside of the headache literature. DESIGN: Review of the most current and relevant headache literature for practitioners specializing in geriatric care. RESULTS: Evaluation and management of headache disorders in older adults requires an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and how it relates to age-related physiological changes. To treat headache disorders in general, the appropriate diagnosis must first be established, and treatment of headaches in elderly adults poses unique challenges, including potential polypharmacy, medical comorbidities, and physiological changes associated with aging. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this review is to provide a guide to and perspective on the challenges inherent in treating headaches in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2408-2416, 2018.

Effects of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block on cervical vascular blood flow: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The stellate ganglion block (SGB) can lead to vasodilation of the head and neck. However, controversy remains concerning the changes in extracerebral blood flow. The objective of this study is to assess the effects of SGB on the blood flow to the neck. METHODS: A randomized controlled crossover trial with 38 participants will be conducted. Participants who have primary headaches will be assigned to either group A or B. Patients in group A will receive SGB with 6 ml 1% lidocaine, and after a one-week washout period, they will undergo the second SGB with 6 ml normal saline. In contrast, patients in group B will receive the opposite protocol. Data will be collected at baseline (T0) and at 15 min after the first intervention (T1), 15 min before the second intervention (T2), 15 min after the second intervention (T3) and at a 3-week follow up (T4). T1 is the primary time point for the primary outcome analysis. The primary outcomes include the peak systolic velocity (PSV), the end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI) and vessel diameter of the common carotid artery (CCA) and vertebral artery (VA). The secondary outcomes include the rate of ptosis, the rate of conjunctival flushing, and the numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score. Additionally, adverse events (AEs) or serious adverse events (SAEs) will be collected at each assessment point. DISCUSSION: This study will comprehensively investigate the efficacy of SGB in extracerebral blood flow. Our research may also suggest that SGB will be effective in reducing pain in patients with primary headaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, identifier ChiCTR-IOR-17011536 . Registered on 1 June 2017.

Secondary Headaches in Children and Adolescents: What Not to Miss.

INTRODUCTION: Headaches are a common occurrence in childhood and adolescence. Most children presenting with a chief complaint of headache have a self-limited infectious disorder or primary headache syndrome that should not require extensive workup. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Differentiating these conditions from other more serious causes of headache in children can sometimes be difficult. This article aims to provide information regarding "red flags" that should indicate a need for concern for disorders that require more urgent evaluation. RECENT FINDINGS: Long-held beliefs about specific "red flags" that have been analyzed in recent years as to their validity and new criteria for the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension have been elaborated based on study. These publications are reviewed in this article. Knowledge of past and current literature on secondary headache in children, combined with thorough history taking and examination, should help determine when there is concern for a serious secondary cause for headache in children and adolescents and direct workup.

Temporomandibular disorder is more prevalent among patients with primary headaches in a tertiary outpatient clinic / Disfunção temporomandibular é mais prevalente entre pacientes com cefaleias primárias em um ambulatório de nível terciário

Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients with primary headaches attended in a tertiary neurology ambulatory.Method Authorized by the Ethics Committee, the present cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of patients screened for orofacial pain and primary headaches at a tertiary hospital in Northeast of Brazil.Results The sample consisted in 42 patients with primary headache, 59.5% male. The prevalence of > 6 TMD signs and symptoms was 54.8%. In those patients with migraine TMD was present in 71.4% and in tension-type headache in 38.1% (p = 0.030; OR = 4.1). TMD was related to the clinical status of headache associated or attributed to medication overuse (p = 0.001).Conclusion TMD has a high prevalence in patients with primary headaches (54.8%). Special attention must be given to patients with migraine and headache associated or attributed to medication overuse.

Objetivo Estimar a prevalência de sinais e sintomas de disfunção temporomandibular (DTM) e fatores associados em pacientes com cefaleias primárias atendidos em um ambulatório de neurologia.Método Autorizado pelo Comitê de Ética, o presente estudo transversal foi conduzido com uma amostra aleatória de pacientes investigados para dor orofacial e cefaleias primárias em um hospital terciário no nordeste do Brasil.Resultados A amostra consistiu em 42 pacientes com cefaleias primárias, sendo 59,5% homens. A prevalência de > 6 sinais e sintomas de DTM foi 54,8%. Naqueles pacientes com migrânea, DTM estava presente em 71,4% e em 38,1% daqueles com cefaleia do tipo tensional (p = 0,030; OR = 4,1). DTM foi relacionada à condição clínica de cefaleia por abuso de medicamentos (p = 0,001).Conclusão A DTM é uma condição com alta prevalência em pacientes com cefaleias primárias (54,8%). Atenção especial deve ser dada a pacientes com migrânea e cefaleia por abuso de medicamentos.

Sleep features and central sensitization symptoms in primary headache patients.

BACKGROUND: Association between sleep disorders and headache is largely known. The aim of the present study was to evaluate sleep quality and quantity in a large cohort of primary headache patients, in order to correlate these scores with symptoms of central sensitization as allodynia, pericranial tenderness and comorbidity with diffuse muscle-skeletal pain. METHODS: One thousand six hundreds and seventy primary headache out patients were submitted to the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) within a clinical assessment, consisting of evaluation of frequency of headache, pericranial tenderness, allodynia and coexistence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). RESULTS: Ten groups of primary headache patients were individuated, including patients with episodic and chronic migraine and tension type headache, mixed forms, cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Duration but not sleep disturbances score was correlated with symptoms of central sensitization as allodynia and pericranial tenderness in primary headache patients. The association among allodynia, pericranial tenderness and short sleep characterized chronic migraine more than any other primary headache form. Patients presenting with FM comorbidity suffered from sleep disturbances in addition to reduction of sleep duration. CONCLUSION: Self reported duration of sleep seems a useful index to be correlated with allodynia, pericranial tenderness and chronic headache as a therapeutic target to be assessed in forthcoming studies aiming to prevent central sensitization symptoms development.

Headache and vasculitis.

Although headaches are common in the general population and have many causes, headaches secondary to inflammatory processes in the blood vessels in the Central Nervous System (CNS) are not so common. The most common types of vasculitis that are associated with headaches include primary CNS vasculitis, systemic necrotizing arteritis, granulomatous vasculitis, and systemic collagen diseases. It is important to differentiate between "true" vasculitides and a condition known and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). While treatment for many of the vasculitides consists of anti-inflammatory medications, this approach may produce significant complications in RCVS. It is up to the clinician to judiciously use imaging and laboratory data to reach the proper diagnosis and therefore offer the correct treatment to these patients.

Sinus venous stenosis-associated idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilledema as a powerful risk factor for progression and refractoriness of headache.

Data from two recent studies strongly support the hypothesis that idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilledema (IIHWOP) could represent a powerful risk factor for the progression of pain in primary headache individuals. The first study highlights that an asymptomatic IIHWOP is much more prevalent than believed in the general population and occurs only in central venous stenosis carriers. In the second study, about one half of a large consecutive series of unresponsive primary chronic headache patients shows significant sinus venous stenosis. A continuous or intermittent IIHWOP was detectable in 91% of this subgroup and in no patient with normal venography. Moreover, after the lumbar puncture, a 2- to 4-week improvement in headache frequency was observed in most of the intracranial hypertensive patients. These findings strongly suggest that patients prone to primary headache who carry central venous outflow abnormalities are at high risk of developing a comorbid IIHWOP, which in turn is responsible for the progression and the unresponsiveness of the pain. Based on the available literature data, we propose that central sinus stenosis-related IIHWOP, although highly prevalent among otherwise healthy people, represents an important modifiable risk factor for the progression and refractoriness of pain in patients predisposed to primary headache. The mechanism could refer to up to one half of the primary chronic headache patients with minimal response to treatments referring to specialized headache clinics. Due to the clinical and taxonomic relevance of this hypothesis further studies are urgently needed.

Thunderclap headache triggered by micturition: responsive to nimodipine.

Primary thunderclap headache (TCH) is a rare condition, of which the onset can be triggered by coughing, exercise, and sexual activity. Micturition is a recognized trigger of secondary TCH with pheochromocytoma in bladder, but not of primary TCH. We describe a patient with an apparent primary TCH, which repeatedly occurred immediately after micturition until she achieved a therapeutic dosage of nimodipine.

Incidence and influence on referral of primary stabbing headache in an outpatient headache clinic.

Primary stabbing headache (PSH) is a pain, as brief, sharp, jabbing stabs, predominantly felt in the first division of trigeminal nerve. Population studies have shown that PSH is a common headache. However, most people suffer attacks of low frequency or intensity and seldom seek for medical assistance. There are few clinic-based studies of PSH, and its real influence as a primary cause for referral to neurology outpatient offices is to be determined. We aim to investigate the burden of PSH as main complaint in an outpatient headache clinic. We reviewed all patients with PSH (ICHD-II criteria), attended in an outpatient headache clinic in a tertiary hospital during a 2.5-year period (January 2008-June 2010). We considered demographic and nosological characteristics and if PSH was main cause of submission. 36 patients (26 females, 10 males) out of 725 (5%) were diagnosed of PSH. Mean age at onset 34.1 ± 2.9 years (range 10-72). Mean time from onset to diagnosis 68.8 ± 18.3 months. Twenty-four patients fulfilled ICHD-II criteria for other headaches (14 migraine, 6 tension-type headache, 2 hemicrania continua, 1 primary cough headache and 1 primary exertional headache). 77.7% of patients were submitted from primary care. In 14 patients (39%), PSH was main reason for submission, its intensity or frequency in 5 (35.7%) and fear of malignancy in 9 (74.3%). Only two patients of those who associated other headaches were submitted due to PSH. In conclusion, PSH is not an uncommon diagnosis in an outpatient headache office. However, and according to our data, it is not usually the main cause of submission to a headache clinic.

Avaliação do impacto da presença de cefaleias primárias e do tempo de experiência de dor na efetividade do tratamento da disfunção temporomandibular / The impact of the coexistence of primary headaches and the time of pain experience on the efficacy of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) management

A migrânea e a cefaléia tensional são cefaléias primárias que surgem de estruturas não-mastigatórias, porém, a presença de sintomas de DTM, como a dor, pode influenciar de modo excitatório tais condições e vice-versa, influenciando no resultado final do tratamento. Esta pesquisa tem o objetivo principal de avaliar o impacto da presença de cefaléias primárias no tratamento das Disfunções Temporomandibulares (DTMs), e testa a hipótese nula de que a presença de cefaléias primárias não interfere com o resultado do tratamento. Como objetivos secundários, de avaliar se existe diferença na presença de dor miofascial nos músculos mastigatórios e cervicais, se existe diferença entre a variação da dor medida pela Escala Analógica Visual (EAV) em relação ao gênero, estresse e hábitos parafuncionais, e se essa diferença também se apresenta entra as variáveis oclusão, tempo de dor, número de queixas e número de tratamentos indicados. Para isso foram selecionados 546 prontuários clínicos de pacientes, sendo 313 com DTM e 233 com DTM e cefaléias, e analisados segundo a EAV ao início e fim do tratamento para DTM, bem como a variação entre a dor inicial e final entre os grupos. Testes de Mann-Whitney, Correlação de Spearman e Qui-quadrado analisaram os dados, com 5% de significância. A presença de cefaléias primárias interferiu negativamente no índice de sucesso do tratamento da DTM (p<0,05) (redução de 38,70 e de 24,66 na EAV para os grupos de DTM e DTM associada a cefaleia, respectivamente). A presença de dor miofascial nas musculaturas mastigatória e cervical foi semelhante entre os grupos. A variação entre a dor inicial e final não foi afetada pela diferença entre os gêneros, assim como pelo auto-relato da presença de hábitos parafuncionais e de estresse. Da mesma forma, a presença de má-oclusão, o tempo de experiência de dor, o número de queixas relatadas e o número de tratamentos indicados pelo profissional não influenciaram os...

Migraine and tension-type headaches are primary headaches that arise from non-masticatory structures, however, the presence of TMD symptoms, like pain, may have a excitatory effect in these conditions and vice versa, influencing the outcome of treatment. This research has the main objective of evaluating the impact of the presence of primary headache in the treatment of Temoromandibulares Disorders (TMD), and tests the null hypothesis that the presence of primary headache does not interfere with treatment outcome. As secondary objectives, to evaluate whether there are differences in the presence of myofascial pain in the masticatory and cervical muscles, if there is a difference between the change in pain measured by visual analog scale (VAS) in relation to gender, stress, and parafunctional habits. The influence of malocclusion, duration of pain, number of complaints and number of treatments given were also evaluated. For this reason, 546 medical records of patients, 313 and 233 with TMD TMD and headaches were selected, and analyzed using a VAS at the beginning and end of treatment for TMD, as well as the variation between the initial and final pain between the groups. Mann-Whitney, Spearman correlation and chi-square test analyzed the data with 5% significance level. The presence of primary headaches interfered negatively with the rate of successful treatment of TMD (p <0,05) (reduction of 38.70 and 24,66 in the VAS for groups of TMD and headache associated with TMD, respectively). The presence of myofascial pain in the masticatory and cervical muscles was similar between groups. The variation between the initial and final pain was not affected by gender differences, as well as by self-report the presence of parafunctional habits and stress. Likewise, the presence of malocclusion, time of pain experience, the number of complaints reported and the number of treatments given by the professional did not influence the final results...

Avaliação do impacto da presença de cefaleias primárias e do tempo de experiência de dor na efetividade do tratamento da disfunção temporomandibular / The impact of the coexistence of primary headaches and the time of pain experience on the efficacy of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) management

A migrânea e a cefaléia tensional são cefaléias primárias que surgem de estruturas não-mastigatórias, porém, a presença de sintomas de DTM, como a dor, pode influenciar de modo excitatório tais condições e vice-versa, influenciando no resultado final do tratamento. Esta pesquisa tem o objetivo principal de avaliar o impacto da presença de cefaléias primárias no tratamento das Disfunções Temporomandibulares (DTMs), e testa a hipótese nula de que a presença de cefaléias primárias não interfere com o resultado do tratamento. Como objetivos secundários, de avaliar se existe diferença na presença de dor miofascial nos músculos mastigatórios e cervicais, se existe diferença entre a variação da dor medida pela Escala Analógica Visual (EAV) em relação ao gênero, estresse e hábitos parafuncionais, e se essa diferença também se apresenta entra as variáveis oclusão, tempo de dor, número de queixas e número de tratamentos indicados. Para isso foram selecionados 546 prontuários clínicos de pacientes, sendo 313 com DTM e 233 com DTM e cefaléias, e analisados segundo a EAV ao início e fim do tratamento para DTM, bem como a variação entre a dor inicial e final entre os grupos. Testes de Mann-Whitney, Correlação de Spearman e Qui-quadrado analisaram os dados, com 5% de significância. A presença de cefaléias primárias interferiu negativamente no índice de sucesso do tratamento da DTM (p<0,05) (redução de 38,70 e de 24,66 na EAV para os grupos de DTM e DTM associada a cefaleia, respectivamente). A presença de dor miofascial nas musculaturas mastigatória e cervical foi semelhante entre os grupos. A variação entre a dor inicial e final não foi afetada pela diferença entre os gêneros, assim como pelo auto-relato da presença de hábitos parafuncionais e de estresse. Da mesma forma, a presença de má-oclusão, o tempo de experiência de dor, o número de queixas relatadas e o número de tratamentos indicados pelo profissional não influenciaram os...

Migraine and tension-type headaches are primary headaches that arise from non-masticatory structures, however, the presence of TMD symptoms, like pain, may have a excitatory effect in these conditions and vice versa, influencing the outcome of treatment. This research has the main objective of evaluating the impact of the presence of primary headache in the treatment of Temoromandibulares Disorders (TMD), and tests the null hypothesis that the presence of primary headache does not interfere with treatment outcome. As secondary objectives, to evaluate whether there are differences in the presence of myofascial pain in the masticatory and cervical muscles, if there is a difference between the change in pain measured by visual analog scale (VAS) in relation to gender, stress, and parafunctional habits. The influence of malocclusion, duration of pain, number of complaints and number of treatments given were also evaluated. For this reason, 546 medical records of patients, 313 and 233 with TMD TMD and headaches were selected, and analyzed using a VAS at the beginning and end of treatment for TMD, as well as the variation between the initial and final pain between the groups. Mann-Whitney, Spearman correlation and chi-square test analyzed the data with 5% significance level. The presence of primary headaches interfered negatively with the rate of successful treatment of TMD (p <0,05) (reduction of 38.70 and 24,66 in the VAS for groups of TMD and headache associated with TMD, respectively). The presence of myofascial pain in the masticatory and cervical muscles was similar between groups. The variation between the initial and final pain was not affected by gender differences, as well as by self-report the presence of parafunctional habits and stress. Likewise, the presence of malocclusion, time of pain experience, the number of complaints reported and the number of treatments given by the professional did not influence the final results...

Headache reflections: the role of classification, narrative and focused intervention.

Clearly the patient's history is paramount in determining whether a headache belongs in the migraine, chronic tension-type or other category. The multiple conditions in the other category can sometimes make definitive diagnosis a daunting challenge. Laboratory testing looking for hematologic or metabolic abnormalities may be advised, and brain imaging may be required. If an acute hemorrhage is anticipated, an unenhanced CAT scan may be sufficient. Relative to other pathologic possibilities, a MRI generally provides more specific and useful information. This is especially true when seeking to rule out a tumor or vascular abnormality (in which case a MRA, as well as a MRI, may be helpful). Most lay people recognize that headaches may, at least potentially, have a serious cause. Indeed, many patients with severe migraine and chronic tension-type headaches are greatly relieved to learn that some ominous pathology is not present. Of course, clinicians also worry about the causes of headache and are fearful of missing some potentially serious underlying pathology. Utilization of the conceptual framework of migraine, chronic tension-type or other headache does not guarantee an accurate diagnosis. But this approach can help, especially when the clinician appreciates the importance of an accurate patient history. Such focus can guide the determination of whether to initiate empiric treatment or to embark on a definitive diagnostic evaluation. Headaches are common, sometimes disabling and potential harbingers of dreaded pathology. Thoughtful assessment of every patient with headache is warranted.

Acute headache: a prospective diagnostic work-up of patients admitted to a general hospital.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To find a specified diagnosis for every patient investigated in the hospital emergency room for acute headache suspicious of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), and to describe similarities and differences between the diagnostic groups. METHODS: We used a standardized set of questionnaires and supplementary tests, including cerebral computed tomography (CT) and if needed lumbar puncture, in the investigation of the patients. Two neurologists diagnosed the same cases independently. RESULTS: We found 30 different diagnoses as the cause of acute headache. Sixteen per cent had a SAH, and 57% had a primary headache. Patient characteristics, conditions at headache onset and accompanying symptoms were surprisingly similar in the diagnostic groups. For three SAH patients, it took 30 min to reach maximum pain intensity. In all diagnostic groups, a large proportion of the patients reached maximum pain within 60 s. CONCLUSIONS: To distinguish between benign and malignant causes of acute headache is difficult based on clinical features. The consistent use of CT and lumbar puncture is valuable when investigating sudden onset 'first or worst headache ever'. This can reduce the risk of missing a SAH diagnosis, and make it possible to give more exact diagnoses to patients suffering from both primary and secondary headaches.

Thunderclap headache after micturition in bladder pheochromocytoma.

A thunderclap headache is a sudden and severe headache and is sometimes a sign of a medical emergency such as aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and pituitary apoplexy. We report a case of pheochromocytoma in the urinary bladder in a 37-year-old man who presented with recurrent thunderclap headache after voiding and exercises. Bladder pheochromocytoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of recurrent thunderclap headache after micturition or exercises.

Characteristics of brain tumour-associated headache.

Eighty-five brain tumour patients were examined for further characteristics of brain tumour-associated headache. The overall prevalence of headache in this population was 60%, but headache was the sole symptom in only 2%. Pain was generally dull, of moderate intensity, and not specifically localized. Nearly 40% met the criteria of tension-type headache. An alteration of the pain with the occurrence of the tumour was experienced by 82.5%, implying that the pre-existing and the brain tumour headaches were different. The classic characteristics mentioned in the International Classification of Headache Disorders (worsening in the morning or during coughing) were not found; this might be explained by the patients not having elevated intracranial pressure. Univariate analysis revealed that a positive family history of headache and the presence of meningiomas are risk factors for tumour-associated headache, and the use of beta-blockers is prophylactic. Pre-existing headache was the only risk factor according to logistic regression, suggesting that patients with pre-existing (primary) headache have a greater predisposition to develop secondary headache. Dull headache occurs significantly more often in patients with glioblastoma multiforme, and pulsating headache in patients with meningioma. In our study, only infratentorial tumours were associated with headache location, and predominantly with occipital but rarely frontal pain.