Cluster headache

Role of sphenopalatine ganglion neuroablation in the management of cluster headache

Cluster headache is a primary neurovascular headache. It is a strictly unilateral head pain that is associated with cranial autonomic symptoms and usually follows circadian and circannual patterns. Chronic cluster headache, which accounts for about 10% to 15% of patients with cluster headache, lacks the circadian pattern and is often resistant to pharmacological management. The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), located in the pterygopalatine fossa, is involved in the pathophysiology of cluster headache and has been a target for blocks and other surgical approaches. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the SPG was shown to have encouraging results in those patients with intractable cluster headaches.

Sphenopalatine ganglion radiofrequency ablation for the management of chronic cluster headache

OBJECTIVES

Chronic cluster headache patients are often resistant to pharmacological management. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) was shown before to improve episodic cluster headache but not chronic cluster headache. We were interested to examine the effect of such intervention in patients with intractable chronic cluster headache who failed pharmacological management.

METHODS

Fifteen patients with chronic cluster headache, who experienced temporary pain relief following SPG block, underwent percutaneous RFA via the infrazygomatic approach under fluoroscopic guidance. Collected data include demographic variables, onset and duration of the headache, mean attack intensity (MAI), mean attack frequency (MAF), and pain disability index (PDI) before and up to 18 months after procedure.

RESULTS

At 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-month follow-up, the MAI was 2.6, 3.2, 3.2, 3.4, 4.2, respectively (P < .0001, P < .0001, P < .0001, P < .0005, P < .003, respectively). The PDI improved from 55 (baseline) to 17.2 and 25.6 at 6 and 12 months respectively (P < .001). The MAF improved from 17 attacks/week to 5.4, 6.4, 7.8, 8.6, 8.3 at 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-month follow-up visits (P < .0001, P < .0001, P < .0001, P < .002, P < .004, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our data showed that percutaneous RFA of the SPG is an effective modality of treatment for patients with intractable chronic cluster headaches. Precise needle placement with the use of real-time fluoroscopy and electrical stimulation prior to attempting radiofrequency lesioning may reduce the incidence of adverse events.

Patterns and predictors of prescription medication use in the management of headache: findings from the 2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

OBJECTIVE

The primary objectives were to examine national trends of prescription medication use for headache and explore patterns of variation in the use of these medications across social and demographic levels.

BACKGROUND

Despite widespread use of prescription medication for management of headache, little is known about utilization patterns or patient characteristics associated with receiving this type of treatment.

METHODS

This study conducted a secondary analysis of data obtained during the 2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a representative survey of the U.S. noninstitutionalized population. Weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to evaluate patterns and rates of overall prescription medication use in patients reporting headache as a household condition.

RESULTS

An estimated 9.7 million people 18 years or older reported suffering from headache in 2000. Of these, 46% reported using at least one medication for the treatment of headache. Migraine-specific abortive medication (ie, selective serotonin receptor agonists and ergotamine derivatives) was the most frequently reported medication class, used by 36% of participants. Opiate analgesics and butalbital-containing products also experienced extensive prescribing reported by 22% and 17% of survey respondents, respectively. After adjustment for covariates, wide variation in the use of prescription medication was observed across sociodemographic characteristics including age, ethnicity, and insurance status.

CONCLUSION

The observed variation in prescription medication use by drug class and sociodemographic characteristics suggests strategies are needed for improving current prescribing patterns in this patient population.

The "other" primary headaches in children and adolescents

Headache represents one of the most common reasons why children and adolescents are referred to pediatric neurology practices where the most common headache syndromes diagnosed are migraine and its variants, and chronic daily headache. The bulk of recent literature regarding headache in children has focused on these two clinical entities even though large epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that tension-type headache may be two to three times more common in children. Why has so little attention been given to these other disorders? The purpose of this review is to examine the "other" primary headache disorders in children and adolescents.