title: Corneal sensitivity during and outside attacks of cluster headache.
abstract: Corneal sensitivity has been studied in cluster headache (n = 38) and controls (n = 16). The patients were studied either during remission (n = 20), interparoxysmally in a bout (n = 17), or during attacks (spontaneously occurring attacks (n = 5) and nitroglycerin-provoked attacks (n = 6). For the measurements, a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer was utilized. This esthesiometer has a 6 cm long, adjustable nylon monofilament, which can be reduced in length by 0.5 cm at a time, the length of the filament determining the pressure exerted onto the corneal surface. All controls sensed the pressure at 6.0 cm filament length. In 5 cluster headache patients (remission, n = 4; cluster period, n = 1) a slight reduction in corneal sensitivity was found. No statistical difference was, however, found between any of the groups tested, and there was no asymmetry as far as averages were concerned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Regionsykehuset i Trondheim, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005996:Nitroglycerin