Secondary "hypnic headache".
Hypnic headache is a rare form of primary headache with attacks occurring exclusively with sleep. As it is typical of the elderly, a wide range of alternative diagnosis must be considered. We present a case report of a 54-year-old woman with unsuspected secondary hypnic headache that was relieved by anti-hypertensive therapy. We reviewed the literature to evaluate the usual diagnostic workup performed in hypnic headache patients. We suggest that 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring may be included in the evaluation of nocturnal headache complaints especially in the elderly, in whom essential hypertension is a very frequent comorbidity.
Gil-Gouveia
Raquel
R
Headache Group, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, LondonWC1N 3BG, UK.
Goadsby
Peter J
PJ
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D051270:Headache Disorders, Primary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents