[Headache in acute cerebrovascular ischemic disease: a prospective clinical study of 195 patients].
BACKGROUND
Headache is a little known aspect in the study of acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease (AICVD).


METHODS
To contribute to the knowledge of the clinical characteristics of headache in the different nosologic entities of AICVD a prospective study was performed in 195 patients consecutively studied by CT scan and/or cerebral MRI.


RESULTS
There was headache in 32% of the total and in 41% of the thrombotic infarctions, 39% of the cardioembolisms, 26% of the transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and 23% of the lacunar infarcts. The mean duration was 25 +/- 28 hours. Headache was focal in 74% of the cases and of slight or moderate intensity in 74%. Headache was significantly more common in thrombotic infarctions than in lacunar ones (p < 0.05). It was more frequent when the topography is vertebrobasilar (57.5%), in comparison with carotid (21%) or undetermined (17.5%) (p < 0.0001). Headache was more common when topography was cortical (56.5%) in comparison with subcortical (26.5%) (p < 0.005). Eight per cent of the patients presented sentinel headache: 22% of the cardioembolic infarctions, 7% of the lacunars, 6.5% of the TIA and 5.5% of the thrombotic.


CONCLUSIONS
Headache in acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease is not uncommon predominating in thrombotic infarctions and cardioembolisms of cortical topography and of vertebrobasilar vascular territory.
Servicio de Neurología, Quinta de Salud La Alianza-Hospital Central, Barcelona.
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A
Arboix
J
J
Massons
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MP
Arribas
M
M
Oliveres
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F
Titus
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
Cefalea en la enfermedad cerebrovascular isquémica aguda: estudio clínico prospectivo de 195 pacientes.