Cluster headache without autonomic symptoms: why is it different?

Martins, I; Gouveia, R; Parreira, E

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.10/1342

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
Headache. 2005 Mar 45(3) 190-5.pdf		61.77 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Martins, I

Gouveia, R

Parreira, E

Abstract(s)

BACKGROUND: Some patients with otherwise typical cluster headache (CH) have persistent attacks free of cranial autonomic symptoms (CAS). The factors responsible for this atypical presentation are not known. OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated to the absence of CAS in patients with CH. METHODS: A prospective series of 157 patients with the diagnosis of CH was analyzed, comparing 148 typical CH patients with 9 CH patients without CAS. RESULTS: Patients without CAS reported significantly less intense attacks (P = .003) when compared to those with CAS. There was also a tendency (not reaching statistical significance) for a higher frequency of females and chronic CH among those without CAS. Otherwise, there were no differences between the two groups (in age, duration of illness, follow-up time, attack duration or frequency, nor side or site of pain). A logistic regression analysis showed that only pain intensity could explain the difference between the two groups, since the other explanatory variables were also associated with different intensity of attacks. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis that CH without cranial autonomic symptoms represents a milder form of CH.