Medication-overuse headache-a review of different treatment strategies.

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) can develop from primary headaches. MOH is usually the result of overuse of symptomatic medications. It is a noteworthy personal and societal burden. The identification and treatment of patients at risk for MOH is an essential component of MOH management. Medication overuse can be modifiable and can advance from episodic to chronic migraine. Treatment for MOH is complex, and experts in the field have varied views on the most appropriate strategy for MOH treatment. The objective of this review is to give a comprehensive synopsis of the literature for the management of MOH. Treatment strategies, such as detoxification and prevention, are the debatable issues. Medication withdrawal is the foundation for management. The available literature suggested abrupt withdrawal with preventive approaches for early management. Bridging therapy could be useful to get relief from withdrawal symptoms. Multidisciplinary choices proved beneficial in supporting withdrawal and preventing relapse. Worldwide, the termination of overused medications has been observed as a standard treatment strategy; however, patient-specific approaches should be taken.

Headache and systemic lupus erythematosus: A narrative review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the epidemiology, the differential diagnosis, and the clinical and laboratory factors associated with the care management of headaches in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). BACKGROUND: SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease and in 12%-95% of patients, the nervous system is involved. Headache is a frequently reported, although nonspecific, symptom that may potentially represent serious underlying diagnoses. Primary headaches may also occur in these patients, thereby causing a negative and significant impact on their quality of life. METHODS: This is a narrative review. A literature review was conducted on the PubMed platform using the following terms: (1) headache and (2) lupus. All articles considered relevant were included. No limitations were imposed for the publication date. RESULTS: Headache is a frequent symptom in patients with SLE. Although its prevalence is similar to the general population, headaches nonetheless tend to have a greater negative impact on these patients. Patients with SLE are more likely to experience headache due to vascular diseases such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, stroke, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and vasculitis. Aseptic meningitis, neuroinfections, intracranial neoplasms, and intracranial hypertension or hypotension may also be a cause of headache in these patients. Although used in disease activity scores, the concept of lupus headache is controversial. CONCLUSIONS: Headache is a frequent symptom in patients with SLE. An appropriate approach enables the potentially serious conditions, which are the causes of secondary headaches, to be recognized and treated, together with an appropriate diagnosis and treatment of primary headaches.

Comparison between Simple Planas Indirect Tracks and occlusal splints for treatment of temporomandibular disorder-related headache: a randomized controlled clinical trial / Comparação entre Pistas Indiretas Planas Simples e placas miorrelaxantes para tratamento de dor de cabeça relacionada à disfunção temporomandibular: ensaio clínico randomizado

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular disorder-related headache (TMDH) is a very common clinical condition which manifests as pain around the temples. The treatment recommended in dentistry is occlusal splint. However, there is a device generally used in functional jaw orthopedics, called simple Planas indirect tracks (SPIT), which has been shown to be efficient in managing these headaches. This clinical trial aimed to compare SPIT and occlusal splints in the treatment of TMDH patients. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial included thirty-seven women who had TMDH for more than one year into three groups: GPIT treated with SPIT, GSPLINT treated with a Michigan splint, and a control group (CG) submitted to no treatment. The randomization was paired, that is, each new individual was assigned to a group sequentially. The number of headache days per month, average pain intensity, pain response to masseter and temporalis palpation, and days of pain drug use were collected and analyzed. The follow-up lasted for 3 months. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were included but 4 dropped out during treatment and 33 underwent intervention. Patients in GPIT exhibited superior results compared to GSPLINT and CG, with significant differences between groups for almost all variables. In GPIT, the number of headache days was reduced by 87.43%, pain intensity by 66.67%, and days of drug use by 88.42%, with significant improvement in all parameters compared to CG. In GSPLINT, the number of headache days decreased by 44.46% and days of drug use by 36.63%, while pain intensity increased by 46.67%; however, there was no significant difference in any of the parameters compared to CG. CONCLUSION: SPIT may be a good treatment option for patients with TMDH since these appliances have shown much more consistent results than occlusal splints. Further studies and with more individuals will be needed to confirm these findings.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A cefaleia secundária à disfunção temporomandibular (CDTM), é uma condição clínica muito comum, com dores nas têmporas. O tratamento padrão na odontologia são as placas miorrelaxantes, entretanto um aparelho da ortopedia funcional dos maxilares, chamado de Pistas Indiretas Planas Simples (PIPS), tem se demonstrado eficiente no controle dessas cefaleias. Este estudo clínico visou comparar as PIPS com as placas miorrelaxantes, no quadro álgico de CDTM. MÉTODOS: Este ensaio clínico randomizado incluiu 37 mulheres portadoras de CDTM há mais de um ano, que foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em três grupos: o GPIPS, no qual as pacientes foram tratadas com PIPS, o GPLACA, com uso de placas miorrelaxantes de Michigan e o grupo controle (GC), sem qualquer tratamento. A aleatorização foi pareada, sendo que cada participante era consecutivamente alocada em um grupo diferente. Foram coletados e analisados dias de cefaleia por mês, intensidade de dores, resposta álgica à palpação de masseter e temporal, bem como os dias de uso de fármacos. O acompanhamento foi de três meses. RESULTADOS: Das 37 pacientes iniciais, 4 desistiram do tratamento e apenas 33 foram submetidos a alguma intervenção. As pacientes do GPIPS apresentaram resultados muito superiores às do GPLACA e do GC, com diferenças significativas entre os grupos em quase todas as variáveis. No GPIPS, os dias de dor diminuíram 87,43%, a intensidade 66,67% e os dias de uso de fármacos analgésicos 88,42%, sendo estatisticamente significante a melhora em todos os parâmetros em relação ao GC. Já no GPLACA, os dias de dor diminuíram 44,46% e os dias de uso de fármacos 36,63%, mas a intensidade da dor aumentou 46,67%, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significante em nenhum parâmetro quando comparado ao GC. CONCLUSÃO: O uso do PIPS pode ser uma boa escolha de tratamento da CDTM, tendo apresentado resultados mais consistentes do que as placas miorrelaxantes. Mais estudos e com mais participantes são necessários para confirmar estes achados.

Secondary cluster headache and numb chin syndrome as initial manifestation of high-grade B-lymphoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is a primary condition characterized by severe headache accompanied by trigeminal autonomic signs. By definition, it is not attributed to underlying etiologies; however, under certain clinical characteristics, secondary etiologies must be ruled out. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 48-year-old Hispanic man with a history of episodic right orbital pain, lasting 30 minutes, associated with ipsilateral tearing, who prior to the onset of his symptoms reported loss of appetite, weight loss, and paresthesias in the right chin region. After work-up studies, high-grade lymphoma with infiltration to the right submental nerve was diagnosed, in which numb chin syndrome was the initial presentation. Despite initiation of treatment, the patient died 3 weeks after the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In the study of cluster headache, underlying etiologies must be considered when there are atypical clinical manifestations. Within these etiologies, metastases to pericranial nerves must be included, which, besides generating localized symptoms, can activate the trigeminal vascular system simulating headaches of primary etiology.

Secondary stabbing headache associated with intracranial tumors, aneurysms, and arteriovenous malformation: An alarming warning sign.

BACKGROUND: Stabbing headache (SH) is considered as a pure primary headache, but according to a few clinical observations it could also be secondary. Over the past decades, we have been observing the complaint of SH in patients with intracranial vascular and neoplastic lesions. OBJECTIVE: To describe a series of patients with intracranial lesions who experienced SH. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective study of 34 patients with intracranial lesions associated with SH, admitted at Hospital das Clínicas, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil. RESULTS: In this series of 34 patients [29 women, 44 ± 12 years (mean ± SD)] with secondary SH, the causes were intracranial neoplasms (n = 31), cerebral aneurysms (n = 2), or arteriovenous malformation (n = 1). Pituitary tumor (n = 18), meningioma (n = 6), and vestibular schwannomas (n = 4) were the most prevalent types of intracranial neoplasms. All these lesions had intimate contact with the dura mater, including an oligodendroglioma, the only intra-axial tumor in the series. A characteristic in the secondary SH is the crescendo pattern (12/34, 35%), progressing from infrequent attacks to recurrent crises occurring several times a day. The SH lasted from 5 days to 60 months (15 ± 18 months, mean ± SD) until the correct diagnosis [16/34 (47%) of the patients ≤6 months]. The SH was triggered by the movement of the head (5/34, 15%) or Valsalva maneuver (1/34). After surgery, suppression of the SH was observed. In a few of the patients to whom dexamethasone was prescribed, the SH subsided within a few days. CONCLUSION: This study was able to identify clinical red flags associated with intracranial lesions and secondary SH, for example, recent onset of SH, exclusively unilateral (ipsilateral) at the same location, crescendo pattern, triggered by head movements, or Valsalva maneuver.

Zeus' pain: did he experience a thunderclap headache? / A dor de Zeus: fora ele acometido por uma cefaleia em trovoada?

Zeus is known as the king of the gods and god of the sky. His attributes are lightning and thunder and he is often depicted about to hurl them. According to Greek mythology, Zeus molested the titan Metis and decided to swallow her when she was pregnant, which resulted in an excruciating headache, only relieved after a craniotomy performed using Hephaestus' axe. The result of this procedure was the birth of Athena, Zeus' daughter. We conducted a combined analysis of some writings such as the classical mythological poem Theogony by Hesiod, and some other books that examine and retell myths and legends of ancient Greece, with medical papers on this topic, trying to characterize Zeus' headache. Would it be possible to fit Zeus' headache into the group of thunderclap headaches?

Zeus é conhecido como rei dos deuses e deus dos céus. Tem como atributos os raios e os trovões e é frequentemente representado prestes a lançá-los. De acordo com a mitologia grega, Zeus molestou a titã Métis e resolveu engoli-la grávida, o que resultou em uma cefaleia excruciante, apenas aliviada após uma craniotomia realizada por meio do machado de Hefesto. O fruto deste procedimento foi Atena, filha de Zeus. Realizamos uma análise combinada utilizando escritos mitológicos clássicos como o poema Teogonia de Hesíodo, além de outros livros sobre mitologia e artigos médicos que tratam deste tema, para tentar caracterizar a cefaleia de Zeus. Seria possível enquadrar a cefaleia de Zeus no grupo das cefaleias em trovoada?

PPIENSENLo: A Novel Mnemonics in Spanish for Alarm Criteria in Secondary Headaches in Children.

We present the first mnemonic in Spanish, "PPIENSENLo," for alarm criteria in secondary headaches in children in order to facilitate their identification, diagnosis, and treatment. A search was performed across different electronic databases for a mnemonics that applied to clinical alarm criteria in secondary headaches in children. None were found in English or Spanish. This tool is perhaps useful both for clinical and teaching purposes.

Headache attributed to masticatory myofascial pain: impact on facial pain and pressure pain threshold.

There is no clear evidence on how a headache attributed to temporomandibular disorder (TMD) can hinder the improvement of facial pain and masticatory muscle pain. The aim of this study was to measure the impact of a TMD-attributed headache on masticatory myofascial (MMF) pain management. The sample was comprised of adults with MMF pain measured according to the revised research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD) and additionally diagnosed with (Group 1, n = 17) or without (Group 2, n = 20) a TMD-attributed headache. Both groups received instructions on how to implement behavioural changes and use a stabilisation appliance for 5 months. The reported facial pain intensity (visual analogue scale--VAS) and pressure pain threshold (PPT--kgf cm(-2)) of the anterior temporalis, masseter and right forearm were measured at three assessment time points. Two-way anova was applied to the data, considering a 5% significance level. All groups had a reduction in their reported facial pain intensity (P < 0·001). Mean and standard deviation (SD) PPT values, from 1·33 (0·54) to 1·96 (1·06) kgf cm(-2) for the anterior temporalis in Group 1 (P = 0·016), and from 1·27 (0·35) to 1·72 (0·60) kgf cm(-2) for the masseter in Group 2 (P = 0·013), had significant improvement considering baseline versus the 5th-month assessment. However, no differences between the groups were found (P > 0·100). A TMD-attributed headache in patients with MMF pain does not negatively impact pain management, but does change the pattern for muscle pain improvement.

Análisis crítico de la clasificación actual de las cefaleas primarias: pros y contras / Critical analysis of the current classification of primary headaches: pros and cons

La Clasificación de la Sociedad Internacional de Cefaleas es una herramienta fundamental para la práctica médica y la investigación, ya que es una fuente de referencia y consulta necesaria para un mejor entendimiento de la fisiopatología, para el establecimiento de diagnósticos diferenciales y para el desarrollo de opciones terapéuticas. La primera edición se fundamentó principalmente en los síntomas de las cefaleas; en la segunda edición, más actualizada y basada en la evidencia, se le dio más importancia a la etiología y se clasificaron las cefaleas en dos grandes grupos: primarias y secundarias, que se subdividen en tipos, subtipos y en subformas. En este artículo se hace una breve descripción de esta clasificación y se destaca su importancia clínica y epidemiológica.

The Classification of the International Headache Society is an essential tool for medical practice and research, since it is a source of reference and consultation which is necessary for a better understanding of the pathophysiology, for the establishment of differential diagnosis, and for the developement of therapeutic options. The first edition was based mainly on tbe symptoms of headaches, and in the second edition, updated and based on evidence, more importance was given to the ethiology of headaches and they were classified into two major groups; primary and secondary, which were subdivided into types, subtypes and subforms. This article gives a brief description of the classification and it highlights its clinical and epidemiologyc importance.

SUNCT syndrome: report of a possible symptomatic case

SUNCT is one of the rarest and least known primary headache disorders. Although its pathogenesis has been partially understood by functional neuroimaging and reports of secondary cases, there is limited understanding of its cause. We report a case of SUNCT in a 54-years-old man, that could not be strictly classified as secondary SUNCT; however, the time lag of pain onset suggests a new theory in which neuroplasticity could be involved in the origin and duration of the pain in SUNCT syndrome.

SUNCT é uma das mais raras e menos conhecidas cefaléias primárias. Embora sua patogênese esteja parcialmente compreendida por neuroimagem funcional e relatos de casos secundários, há insuficiente conhecimento a respeito de sua causa. Nós relatamos um caso de SUNCT em um homem de 54 anos, que não poderia ser estritamente classificado como SUNCT secundário; entretanto, o lapso de tempo para o início da dor sugere uma nova hipótese na qual a neuroplasticidade possa esta envolvida na origem e duração da dor na síndrome SUNCT.