Acute hypothalamic stimulation and ongoing cluster headache attacks.
Long-term hypothalamic stimulation is effective in improving drug-resistant chronic cluster headache (CH). We assessed acute hypothalamic stimulation to resolve ongoing CH attacks in 16 patients implanted to prevent chronic CH, investigating 136 attacks. A pain intensity reduction of > or =50% occurred in 25 of 108 evaluable attacks (23.1%). Acute hypothalamic stimulation is not effective in resolving ongoing CH attacks, suggesting that hypothalamic stimulation acts by complex mechanisms in CH prevention.
Leone
M
M
Department of Neurology and Headache Centre, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, Italy. leone@istituto-besta.it
Franzini
A
A
Broggi
G
G
Mea
E
E
Cecchini
A Proietti
AP
Bussone
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007034:Hypothalamus, Posterior / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D018170:Sumatriptan