Prevalence of trigeminocervical convergence mechanisms in episodic and chronic migraine

Cervicogenic headache - How to recognize and treat

Cervicogenic headache, described almost 100 years ago, only had its clinical awakening at the end of the century with the work of Professor Sjaastad. Its classic definition is the induction of trigeminal symptoms from cervical disorders, thanks to trigeminocervical convergence mechanisms. For this reason, it can manifest several features typical of migraine, leading to diagnostic errors. Classically, subjects complain of fixed unilateral headaches, with cervical onset and trigeminal irradiation, associated with reduced neck mobility and flexion strength. The headache is mild to moderate, described as pulsatile or compressive, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, and may present autonomic symptoms and dizziness. The pain duration varies from one day to weeks, and its frequency is unpredictable. A history of whiplash injury is common. The differential diagnosis encompasses migraine and tension-type headache. Management includes physiotherapy rehabilitation, anesthetic blocks, and selectively surgical procedures. In this article, all these aspects were extensively covered.

Clinical characteristics of headaches in an urban Mennonite group in South Brazil

BACKGROUND

Genetic variants play a pathophysiological role in headaches, especially in migraine. The Mennonite group (MG) has been geographically and genetically isolated throughout its history, harboring a distinctive distribution of diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the characteristics of headaches in a group with direct Mennonite ancestry contrasting with other urban community members (control group [CG]).

METHODS

Subjects with headaches were asked to complete a questionnaire covering: the type of headache, presence of aura, frequency and duration of attacks, pain location and severity, analgesic consumption, premonitory and postdromic manifestations, Depressive Thoughts Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), General Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Migraine Disability Assessment, and Composite Autonomic System Score.

RESULTS

We included 103 participants (CG: 45, Mennonite group [MG]: 58). Migraine was the most common headache (CG: 91.1%; MG: 81.0%; p = 0.172), followed by tension-type headache (CG: 8.9%; MG: 15.5%; p = 0.381). Aura was identified by 44.4% and 39.7% in the CG and MG, respectively (p = 0.689). The groups differed only concerning the frequency of retro-orbital pain (CG: 55.6%; MG: 32.8%; p = 0.027), PHQ-9 (CG: median 7, range 0 to 22; MG: median 5, range 0 to 19; p = 0.031) and ESS (CG: median 0, range 0 to 270; MG: median 0, range 0 to 108; p = 0.048) scores.

CONCLUSION

There were no major differences in the prevalence and clinical characterization of headaches between the MG and the CG. However, the latter showed more diffuse pain, sleepiness, and depressive symptoms. Specific genetic or epigenetic variants in Mennonite descendants might account for these differences.

Modulation of Central Nociceptive Transmission by Manual Pressure Techniques in Patients with Migraine: An Observational Study

Background: Manual pressure in the upper cervical spine is used to provoke and reduce the familiar migraine headache. Information is scarce on the segmental levels, myofascial structure provocation, and reduction occurrences. The required dosage (amount of pressure, number of repetitions, and duration) has not been objectified yet. Methods: Prospective observational study. Thirty patients with migraine were examined interictally. Manual pressure was applied at four sites: the posterior arch of C1, the articular pillar of C2, the rectus capitis posterior major muscle, and the obliquus capitis inferior muscle, bilaterally. On sites where the familiar headache was provoked, the pressure was sustained to induce pain reduction (three repetitions). Provocation of familiar headache (yes/no), headache intensity (numerical pain rating scale), time to obtain a reduction of the headache (seconds), and applied pressure (g/cm2) were recorded. Results: Provocation of the familiar headache occurred at the posterior arches C1 in 92%, and at one of the articular pillars of C2 in 65.3% of cases. At one of the rectus capitis major muscles, the familiar headache was provoked in 84.6% of cases; at one of the oblique capitis inferior muscles, the familiar headache was provoked in 76.9% of cases. The applied mean pressure ranged from 0.82 to 1.2 kg/cm2. Maintaining the pressure reduced headache pain intensity significantly between the start and end of each of the three consecutive trials (p < 0.04). This reduction occurred faster in the third application than in the first application (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Manual pressure at upper cervical segments provokes familiar referred migraine headaches, with low manual pressure. Maintaining the pressure reduces the referred head pain significantly, indicating modulation of central nociceptive transmission.

Current Perspectives on the Impact of Chronic Migraine on Sleep Quality: A Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have shown that sleep problems occur in migraineurs and poor sleep causes chronification, but the mechanisms by which chronic migraine affects sleep quality are still unknown. This review aims to analyze commonly reported sleep disturbances in chronic migraine (CM) and determine the effect of CM on sleep quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive review of all published articles on CM and sleep quality from inception to March 2022 in the literature. Clinical trials, observational studies, and case series (≥20 cases) were included. Two reviewers and a supervisor reviewed the titles and abstracts of all search results with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. PubMed search for randomized controlled trials and open studies on CM and sleep quality reported in English between 1983 and 2022 was conducted using the keywords including chronic migraine, sleep, insomnia, sleep quality, polysomnography, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS

A total of 535 potentially relevant articles were found. A total of 455 articles and reviews, meta-analyses published in any language other than English, with other exclusion criteria, were excluded from the review. In the remaining articles, 36 clinical studies, reviewing sleep quality and its association with migraine, were identified and reviewed. Evidence from this review shows that poor sleep and migraine chronicity are intertwined with other accompanying comorbidities and dysregulation of circadian rhythm that innovative treatments promise to bring relief to both poor sleep as well as migraine.

CONCLUSION

Sleep disorders are common in CM and the association between migraine chronification and sleep quality is bidirectional. Comorbid conditions with accompanying frequent attacks in migraine may impair sleep quality. While the maladaptive pain process worsens sleep, poor sleep quality also negatively affects migraine pain. Sleep disturbance, which is affected by worsening migraine attacks, causes deterioration in the quality of life, loss of workforce, and economic burden.