title: Cerebrospinal fluid and serum neuron-specific enolase in acute benign headache.
abstract: We determined the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) concentrations in 19 patients with acute benign headache. All patients had normal neurological examination, CSF and head computed tomography scan. The final diagnoses were: primary thunderclap headache (n = 7), primary exertional headache (n = 3), primary cough headache (n = 1), migraine without aura (n = 4), headache unspecified (n = 2), probable infrequent episodic tension-type headache (n = 1), headache attributed to hypertensive crisis without hypertensive encephalopathy (n = 1). A group of 108 healthy subjects served as controls. CSF NSE concentration was 14.16 ng/ml [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.86, 16.47)] in the headache sample (controls 17.19 ng/ml, 95% CI 16.23, 18.15). Serum NSE concentration was 7.50 ng/ml (95% CI 5.20, 9.80) in the headache sample (controls 8.45 ng/ml, 95% CI 7.67, 9.23). CSF/serum ratio was 2.81 (95% CI 2.21, 3.40) in the headache sample (controls 2.23, 95% CI 2.03, 2.42). Acute benign headache is not associated with neuronal damage as estimated by means of CSF and serum NSE concentration.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Neurology, Faenza Hospital, AUSL Ravenna, Faenza (RA), Italy. m.casmiro@ausl.ra.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casmiro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vignatelli
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase