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Stanyer EC, Hoffmann J, Holland PR. Orexins and primary headaches: an overview of the neurobiology and clinical impact. Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:487-496. [PMID: 38517280 PMCID: PMC11034548 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2328728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Primary headaches, including migraines and cluster headaches, are highly prevalent disorders that significantly impact quality of life. Several factors suggest a key role for the hypothalamus, including neuroimaging studies, attack periodicity, and the presence of altered homeostatic regulation. The orexins are two neuropeptides synthesized almost exclusively in the lateral hypothalamus with widespread projections across the central nervous system. They are involved in an array of functions including homeostatic regulation and nociception, suggesting a potential role in primary headaches. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes current knowledge of the neurobiology of orexins, their involvement in sleep-wake regulation, nociception, and functions relevant to the associated symptomology of headache disorders. Preclinical reports of the antinociceptive effects of orexin-A in preclinical models are discussed, as well as clinical evidence for the potential involvement of the orexinergic system in headache. EXPERT OPINION Several lines of evidence support the targeted modulation of orexinergic signaling in primary headaches. Critically, orexins A and B, acting differentially via the orexin 1 and 2 receptors, respectively, demonstrate differential effects on trigeminal pain processing, indicating why dual-receptor antagonists failed to show clinical efficacy. The authors propose that orexin 1 receptor agonists or positive allosteric modulators should be the focus of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C. Stanyer
- Headache Group, Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Sir Jules Thorne Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jan Hoffmann
- Headache Group, Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Philip R. Holland
- Headache Group, Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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Søborg MLK, Jensen RH, Barloese M, Petersen AS. Biomarkers in cluster headache: A systematic review. Headache 2024; 64:98-116. [PMID: 38111226 DOI: 10.1111/head.14641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To systematically investigate previously examined biomarkers in blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, tear fluid, and saliva of patients with cluster headache. BACKGROUND Cluster headache is a condition with extensive clinical challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Identification of a biomarker with diagnostic implications or as a potential treatment target is highly warranted. METHODS We conducted a systematic review including peer reviewed full text of studies that measured biochemical compounds in either blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, tear fluid, or saliva of patients with cluster headache diagnosed after the implementation of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (1988) written in English, Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian. Inclusion required a minimum of five participants. The search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE, in September 2022, and extracted data were screened by two authors. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for reporting systematic reviews were followed. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the risk of bias in case-controlled studies. RESULTS We included 40 studies involving 832 patients with cluster headache and 872 controls, evaluating 80 potential biomarkers. The risk of bias for case-controlled studies was a median of 6 (range: 3-8) and 20 studies out of 40 (50%) were of fair or good quality. Most studies were identified within three groups: hypothalamic-regulated hormones, inflammatory markers, and neuropeptides. Among the hypothalamic hormones, cortisol was the most frequently investigated (N = 7) and was elevated in cluster headache in most of the studies. The most frequently examined inflammatory marker was interleukin 1 (N = 3), but findings were divergent. Calcitonin gene-related peptide was the most investigated neuropeptide (N = 9) and all studies found increased levels during attacks. CONCLUSION Biomarker findings have been inconsistent and widely non-specific for cluster headache, which explains why none of the previous studies succeeded in identifying a unique biomarker for cluster headache, but instead contributed to substantiating the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. Several of the examined biomarkers could hold promise as markers for disease activity but are unfit for a clear distinction from both controls and other headaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louise K Søborg
- The Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Rigmor H Jensen
- The Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mads Barloese
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Anja S Petersen
- The Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark
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Sleep and Chronobiology as a Key to Understand Cluster Headache. Neurol Int 2023; 15:497-507. [PMID: 36976672 PMCID: PMC10051701 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint15010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The cluster headache is a primary headache characterized by attacks of unilateral pain associated with ipsilateral cranial autonomic features. These attacks recur in clusters during the years alternating with periods of complete remission, and their onset is often during the night. This annual and nocturnal periodicity hides a strong and mysterious link among CH, sleep, chronobiology and circadian rhythm. Behind this relationship, there may be the influence of genetic components or of anatomical structures such as the hypothalamus, which are both involved in regulating the biological clock and contributing even to the periodicity of cluster headaches. The bidirectional relationship manifests itself also with the presence of sleep disturbances in patients affected by cluster headaches. What if the key to studying the physiopathology of such disease could rely on the mechanisms of chronobiology? The purpose of this review is to analyze this link in order to interpret the pathophysiology of cluster headaches and the possible therapeutic implications.
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Fronczek R, Schinkelshoek M, Shan L, Lammers GJ. The orexin/hypocretin system in neuropsychiatric disorders: Relation to signs and symptoms. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 180:343-358. [PMID: 34225940 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820107-7.00021-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Hypocretin-1 and 2 (or orexin A and B) are neuropeptides exclusively produced by a group of neurons in the lateral and dorsomedial hypothalamus that project throughout the brain. In accordance with this, the two different hypocretin receptors are also found throughout the brain. The hypocretin system is mainly involved in sleep-wake regulation, but also in reward mechanisms, food intake and metabolism, autonomic regulation including thermoregulation, and pain. The disorder most strongly linked to the hypocretin system is the primary sleep disorder narcolepsy type 1 caused by a lack of hypocretin signaling, which is most likely due to an autoimmune process targeting the hypocretin-producing neurons. However, the hypocretin system may also be affected, but to a lesser extent and less specifically, in various other neurological disorders. Examples are neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's disease, immune-mediated disorders such as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and anti-Ma2 encephalitis, and genetic disorders such as type 1 diabetus mellitus and Prader-Willi Syndrome. A partial hypocretin deficiency may contribute to the sleep features of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Fronczek
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands; Sleep Wake Centre SEIN, Heemstede, The Netherlands.
| | - Mink Schinkelshoek
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands; Sleep Wake Centre SEIN, Heemstede, The Netherlands
| | - Ling Shan
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands; Sleep Wake Centre SEIN, Heemstede, The Netherlands; Department Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Jan Lammers
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands; Sleep Wake Centre SEIN, Heemstede, The Netherlands
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Barloese M. Current Understanding of the Chronobiology of Cluster Headache and the Role of Sleep in Its Management. Nat Sci Sleep 2021; 13:153-162. [PMID: 33603525 PMCID: PMC7886233 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s278088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cluster headache is uniquely rhythmic in its occurrence both diurnally and annually. This has implications for the clinical approach to the patient but also for our understanding of the role of central structures in its pathological basis. Many intrinsic and extrinsic factors seem to influence CH rhythmicity, including genetics. The proclivity for attacks to occur at night and the possible association with particular sleep phenomena, including sleep apnea, have motivated a number of studies which has improved our understanding but many questions remain unanswered. The sleep-headache interaction seems to be bidirectional and possibly both direct and indirect. The latter could involve more disperse networks of homeostatic regulation, which may better encompass recent observations. Treatment of the headache patient with concurrent sleep problems can be particularly challenging, especially considering side-effects and interactions of commonly used medications. While current treatment guidelines do not incorporate chronotherapeutic thinking, some evidence may suggest that application of such principles on an individual level may be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Barloese
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.,Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
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Cluster headache: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. J Neurol 2018; 266:1059-1066. [DOI: 10.1007/s00415-018-9007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Messina G, Broggi G, Levi V, Franzini A. Deep brain stimulation for trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Expert Rev Neurother 2018; 18:421-426. [PMID: 29671647 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2018.1462702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the posterior hypothalamic region (pHyr) has been shown to be efficacious for more than a half of patients suffering from trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs); nonetheless, controversies about the mechanisms of action and the actual site of stimulation have arisen in recent years.Areas covered: Firstly, a review of the most recent literature on the subject is presented, stressing the critical points that could, in the future, make a difference for optimal management of patients afflicted by these life-threating diseases. Hypothalamic functional anatomy, experimental data and pathophysiological hypotheses are reported.Expert commentary: About 32% of patients who underwent DBS for TACs are pain-free. The determination of the pHyr region seems to be crucial for the generation of pain attack in these pathologies, although other structures are involved in complex mechanisms and circuits that interact with each other. Neurophysiological data, combined with more advanced experimental models, are of primary importance regarding our understanding of what the real target is, and how to overcome the issue of refractory patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Messina
- Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Broggi
- Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.,Division of Neurosurgery, Istituto Clinico Città Studi, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Levi
- Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Franzini
- Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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Lambru G, Andreou AP, de la Torre ER, Martelletti P. Tackling the perils of unawareness: the cluster headache case. J Headache Pain 2017; 18:49. [PMID: 28451865 PMCID: PMC5407400 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-017-0757-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Lambru
- Headache Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Anna P Andreou
- Headache Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK.,Headache Research - Wolfson CARD, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Paolo Martelletti
- Regional Referral Headache Centre, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. .,European Headache Federation, London, UK.
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Barloese MCJ. Neurobiology and sleep disorders in cluster headache. J Headache Pain 2015; 16:562. [PMID: 26289164 PMCID: PMC4542772 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-015-0562-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cluster headache is characterized by unilateral attacks of severe pain accompanied by cranial autonomic features. Apart from these there are also sleep-related complaints and strong chronobiological features. The interaction between sleep and headache is complex at any level and evidence suggests that it may be of critical importance in our understanding of primary headache disorders. In cluster headache several interactions between sleep and the severe pain attacks have already been proposed. Supported by endocrinological and radiological findings as well as the chronobiological features, predominant theories revolve around central pathology of the hypothalamus. We aimed to investigate the clinical presentation of chronobiological features, the presence of concurrent sleep disorders and the relationship with particular sleep phases or phenomena, the possible role of hypocretin as well as the possible involvement of cardiac autonomic control. We conducted a questionnaire survey on 275 cluster headache patients and 145 controls as well an in-patient sleep study including 40 CH-patients and 25 healthy controls. The findings include: A distinct circannual connection between cluster occurrence and the amount of daylight, substantially poorer sleep quality in patients compared to controls which was present not only inside the clusters but also outside, affected REM-sleep in patients without a particular temporal connection to nocturnal attacks, equal prevalence of sleep apnea in both patient and control groups, reduced levels of hypocretin-1 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients and finally a blunted response to the change from supine to tilted position in the head-up tilt table test indicating a weakened sympathoexcitatory or stronger parasympathetic drive. Overall, these findings support a theory of involvement of dysregulation in hypothalamic and brainstem nuclei in cluster headache pathology. Further, it is made plausible that the headache attacks are but one aspect of a more complex syndrome of central dysregulation manifesting as sleep-related complaints, sub-clinical autonomic dysregulation and of course the severe attacks of unilateral headache. Future endeavors should focus on pathological changes which persist in the attack-free periods but also heed the possibility of long-lived, cluster-induced pathology.
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Barloese M, Jennum P, Lund N, Knudsen S, Gammeltoft S, Jensen R. Reduced CSF hypocretin-1 levels are associated with cluster headache. Cephalalgia 2014; 35:869-76. [DOI: 10.1177/0333102414562971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Background Cluster headache (CH) is a debilitating disorder characterized by unilateral, severe pain attacks with accompanying autonomic symptoms, often waking the patient from sleep. As it exhibits strong chronobiological traits and genetic studies have suggested a link with the hypocretin (HCRT) system, the objective of this study was to investigate HCRT-1 in CH patients. Methods Cerebrospinal fluid HCRT-1 concentration was measured in 12 chronic and 14 episodic CH patients during an active bout, and in 27 healthy controls. The patients were well characterized and clinical features compared to the HCRT concentration. Results We found significantly lower HCRT levels both in chronic ( p = 0.0221) and episodic CH ( p = 0.0005) patients compared with controls. No significant relationship was found with other clinical features. Conclusions This is the first report of significantly reduced HCRT concentrations in CH patients. We speculate that decreased HCRT may reflect insufficient antinociceptive activity of the hypothalamus. The mechanism of the antinociceptive effect of HCRT is not known and requires further investigation. This study supports the hypothesis of a connection between arousal regulation and CH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Barloese
- Danish Headache Center, Dept. of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Poul Jennum
- Danish Center for Sleep Medicine, Dept. of Neurophysiology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nunu Lund
- Danish Headache Center, Dept. of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine Knudsen
- Danish Center for Sleep Medicine, Dept. of Neurophysiology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Clinical Biochemistry Section, Dept. of Diagnostics, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steen Gammeltoft
- Norwegian Resource Center for ADHD, TS and Narcolepsy, University Hospital of Oslo, Norway
| | - Rigmor Jensen
- Danish Headache Center, Dept. of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Sleep and cluster headache (CH) are believed to be interconnected but the precise relation to the other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) is uncertain and complex. A better understanding of these relations may eventually lead to a clarification of the underlying mechanisms and eventually to more effective therapeutic regimens. This review aims to evaluate the existing literature on the subject of TACs and sleep. An association between episodic CH and distinct macrostructural sleep phases, especially the relation to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, has been described in some older studies but could not be confirmed in other, more recent studies. Investigations into the microstructure of sleep in these patients are lacking. Only a few case reports exist on the relation between sleep and other TACs. SUMMARY Recent studies do not find an association between CH and REM sleep. One older study suggests chronic paroxysmal hemicranias may be locked to REM sleep but otherwise the relation is unknown. Reports indicate that CH and obstructive sleep apnoea are associated in some individuals but results are diverging. Single cases show improvement of CH upon treatment of sleep apnoea, but the causal relationship remains in question. Other TACs are probably not connected to sleep and strictly nocturnal attacks should prompt investigations for secondary causes. The relation between CH and sleep is, however, fascinating and detailed sleep studies in carefully diagnosed patients are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - N Lund
- Danish Headache Center, Denmark
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Holle D, Obermann M. Cluster headache and the hypothalamus: causal relationship or epiphenomenon? Expert Rev Neurother 2014; 11:1255-63. [DOI: 10.1586/ern.11.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Barloese M, Jennum P, Knudsen S, Jensen R. Cluster headache and sleep, is there a connection? A review. Cephalalgia 2012; 32:481-91. [PMID: 22407656 DOI: 10.1177/0333102412441090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Sleep and the chronobiological disease cluster headache are believed to be interconnected. Despite efforts, the precise nature of the relationship remains obscured. A better understanding of this relation may lead to more effective therapeutic regimes for patients suffering from this debilitating disease. This review aims to evaluate the existing literature on the subject of cluster headache and sleep. LATEST FINDINGS Several previous studies describe an association between episodic cluster headache and distinct macrostructural sleep phases. This association was not confirmed in a recent study of seven episodic cluster headache patients, but it was suggested that further studies into the correlation between cluster headache attacks and the microstructure of sleep are relevant. The connection between cluster headache and the hypocretins is currently under investigation. SUMMARY There is evidence in favour of an association between episodic cluster headache and REM sleep whereas no such relation to chronic cluster headache has been reported. Particular features in the microstructure of sleep and arousal mechanisms could play a role in the pathogenesis of cluster headache. Reports indicate that cluster headache and obstructive sleep apnoea are associated. Single cases show improvement upon treatment of sleep apnoea, but the causal relationship remains in question.
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