Regional cerebral blood flow as predictor of response to occipital nerve block in cluster headache.

Background: Cluster headache is an excruciating disorder with no cure. Greater occipital nerve blockades can transiently suppress attacks in approximately 50% of patients, however, its mechanism of action remains uncertain, and there are no reliable predictors of treatment response. To address this, we investigated the effect of occipital nerve blockade on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), an index of brain activity, and differences between treatment responders and non-responders.

The development and validation of the Cluster Headache Quality of life scale (CHQ).

Background: Cluster headache (CH) is a rare, excruciating and highly disabling primary headache disorder. Using non cluster headache specific measures, previous studies have shown that CH has a significant negative impact on patients' quality of life (QoL), but a CH-specific QoL scale is currently unavailable. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop and validate a CH-specific QoL scale.

Pain Part 9: Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias.

The trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias are a group of rare, highly disabling, primary headache syndromes distinctly characterized by the unilaterality of their attacks and presence of cranial autonomic symptoms. Although pain is often localized to the peri-orbital and temporal regions, it is not uncommon for pain to radiate to tooth-bearing areas and mimic toothache or jaw pain. Hence, dental practitioners should be aware of these syndromes to enable appropriate referral and avoid unnecessary, and often irreversible, dental treatments.

Quality of life in primary headache disorders: A review.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is emerging as an important element of clinical research in primary headache disorders, allowing a measure of the impact of headache on patients' well-being and daily life. A better understanding of this may contribute to improved resource allocations and treatment approaches.

Objective: The objective of this study is to review available data on HRQoL in primary headache disorders and identify any influencing factors.

SUNA and red ear syndrome: a new association and pathophysiological considerations.

Red ear syndrome (RES) is characterised by attacks of unilateral or bilateral burning ear pain associated with erythema. Primary and secondary forms have been described. Primary RES appears to have a frequent association with primary headaches especially migraine.

Bilateral paroxysmal cephalalgia: a novel indomethacin-responsive primary headache syndrome?

Introduction: Paroxysmal hemicrania (PH) is a primary headache disorder characterised by frequent, short-lasting, very severe, strictly unilateral attacks occurring in association with cranial autonomic features. A striking feature of this disorder is its clear response to indomethacin.

Case Report: In contrast to this stereotypic presentation, we describe a man with indomethacin-responsive headaches that have a temporal profile similar to that of PH but whose attacks have a bilateral distribution without associated cranial autonomic features.