Migrainous features in cluster headache

Abstract

Migraine and cluster headache have been considered entirely separate clinical syndromes, both in routine clinical practice and in the 1988 International Headache Society classification. Neurologists seeing large numbers of patients soon realize, however, that there is a considerable overlap between the two conditions. Some patients have attacks with the cardinal features of cluster headache, but also have a few symptoms (especially a visual aura) usually attributed to migraine. In addition, it is not uncommon for a patient with a lifetime's history of migraine to experience a typical bout of cluster headache, although the reverse is less common. This article reviews the published series of such patients.

Migraine: mimics, borderlands and chameleons

“…There are distinct pathophysiology and treatment paradigms postulated for trigeminal autonomic cephalgias. Although these entities are presented as distinct syndromes, in clinical practice, many patients with cluster headache have migrainous features 16 17. Some patients have attacks with the cardinal features of cluster headache, but also have a few migrainous symptoms, especially a visual aura 17.…”

“…Although these entities are presented as distinct syndromes, in clinical practice, many patients with cluster headache have migrainous features 16 17. Some patients have attacks with the cardinal features of cluster headache, but also have a few migrainous symptoms, especially a visual aura 17. A recent study found 24.5% of patients with cluster headache had at least one migrainous feature 18.…”

“…The term ‘cluster migraine’ is used to denote syndromes when there is significant overlap between cluster headache and migraine 19 20. Experienced neurologists see changing patterns occurring in some patients, who may have migraine with aura, migraine without aura, cluster headache and cluster migraine at different times in their lives 17 21. Response to treatment is also not exclusive: for example, migraine and other primary headache may respond to high-flow oxygen therapy as cluster headache does,22 23 and cluster headaches may respond to medications used for migraine, such as pizotifen and propranolol 21…”

Cluster‐Like Headaches Associated With Internal Carotid Artery Dissection Responsive to Verapamil

“…Actually, the IHS recognized that a duration longer than 3 hours is possible is some attacks 15 . Published series of patients with cluster headaches with migraines features has been reviewed elsewhere, 16 and the diagnosis of “cluster‐migraine” as a distinctive entity has also been discussed 17 …”

Schlafverhalten und Kopfschmerzattacken bei prim�ren Kopfschmerzen

“…Für Gabapentin gibt es aber auch Befunde, die von einer REM-Schlaf-Stabilisierung sprechen [43]. Lamotrigine, was möglicher-weise bei der Migräne mit Aura prophylaktisch wirkt [24], scheint dagegen die REM-Schlaf-Phasen zu verlängern, und gleichzeitig deren Frequenz zu reduzieren [39]. Darüber hinaus zeigen experimentelle Daten, dass auch COX-2-Inhibitoren einen Einfluss auf die Schlafarchitektur haben und den Spontanschlaf hemmen sowie den NON-REMSchlaf reduzieren [61].…”