Cluster headache not responsive to sumatriptan: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Subcutaneous sumatriptan, a 5HT1B/1D agonist, is the most effective drug in cluster headache acute treatment. About 25% of the patients do not respond to subcutaneous sumatriptan; the reasons for this are unknown. In this study, we compare clinical characteristics of cluster headache patients responding and non-responding to subcutaneous sumatriptan. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the clinical records of 277 cluster headache patients. Patients reporting repeated satisfactory response to subcutaneous sumatriptan within 15 minutes were considered responders. RESULTS: Of 206 cluster headache patients who had used subcutaneous sumatriptan (mean age 45.6, 16% females, 48% chronic), 91% were responders, and 9% non-responders. Compared to responders, non-responders had longer and more frequent attacks: 60 (median; IQR 38-90) vs. 100 (60-120) minutes (p = 0.028), 4 (2.5-5) vs. 3 (2-4) attacks/day (p = 0.024). No other difference was found. CONCLUSIONS: In cluster headache attacks with long duration and high frequency, pain mechanisms not involving 5HT1B/1D receptors may play a more relevant role.

Headache in spontaneous intracranial hypotension: an overview with indications for differential diagnosis in the clinical practice.

Headache is the most common symptom of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). The present review focuses on data regarding headache features reported in the most relevant published articles and summarizes the main SIH headache features, namely, orthostatic headache, headache triggered by Valsalva maneuver, pattern of onset of headache, and location and quality of headache. Published data indicate that the clinical suspect of this disorder may be challenging, due to its protean presentation. Among the main implications for clinical practice, we suggest to suspect SIH in all patients with a new onset headache, as different forms of primary and secondary headache should be considered in the differential diagnosis of SIH, particularly cervicogenic headache, new daily persistent headache, and headaches precipitated by Valsalva maneuver. The clinical interview must include specific questions on the possible orthostatic feature of headache, although its absence should not make clinicians to reject the SIH hypothesis as headache cannot be orthostatic in each patient and in all periods of the natural history of the disease. Other disorders with orthostatic symptoms, such as in postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Awareness that SIH can present with acute, sudden onset requires that clinicians working in the emergency settings should consider SIH in the range of diagnoses of thunderclap headache.

Syncope at SARS-CoV-2 onset.

We describe clinical and laboratory findings in 35 patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab experiencing one or multiple syncope at disease onset. Clinical neurologic and cardiologic examination, and electrocardiographic findings were normal. Chest computed tomography showed findings consistent with interstitial pneumonia. Arterial blood gas analysis showed low pO2, pCO2, and ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) indicating hypocapnic hypoxemia. Patients who presented with syncope showed significantly lower heart rate as compared to 68 SARS-CoV-2 positive that did not. Such poorer than expected compensatory heart rate increase may have led to syncope based on individual susceptibility. We speculate that SARS-CoV-2 could have caused angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor internalization in the nucleus of the solitary tract and other midbrain nuclei, impairing baroreflex and chemoreceptor response, and inhibiting the compensatory tachycardia during acute hypocapnic hypoxemia.