Cluster headache attacks in a woman previously struck by lightning: pathophysiology of the latent period.
BACKGROUND
Cases of patients who developed cluster headache-like symptoms after different putative causes have been reported, indicating a direct relationship between brain lesion and this particular type of headache. Long term, delayed, neurological sequelae after lightning have also been described.


METHODS
We describe the case of a woman who, at the age of 10, was struck by lightning. Six years later she developed cluster headache-like attacks.


CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that a relationship between the lightning and the cluster headache-like episodes observed in our patient. This case study may have helped throw some light into the still unknown pathophysiology of this particular type of primary headache.
Valença
Marcelo Moraes
MM
Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Neuropsychiatry, CCS, University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Silva
Wilson Farias da
WF
Andrade-Valença
Luciana Patrízia A
LP
Bordini
Carlos A
CA
Speciali
José Geraldo
JG
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015168:Lightning Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology