title: Sunrise-related headache: case report.
abstract: A male, 34 years of age, suffers from headaches, red and watery eyes. The headaches began in childhood; the frequency of headaches has increased over the years and in the last decade headaches have occurred on a daily basis. If he wakes up before sunrise he feels much better and free of a headache; however, once he continues to sleep during and after sunrise, he suffers from tiredness, headache and nervousness. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), benign neuroepithelial cysts or a chronic infarct area was reported at the junction of the left medio-lateral zone of hypothalamus. After repeated MRI examinations, it was decided that the lesion on the left medio-lateral zone of hypothalamus may have disrupted the pineal gland and changed melatonin secretion. It was decided to treat him with 3 mg melatonin daily before going to bed. After a week of treatment, the patient reported that he felt very fresh and was virtually free of headaches.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Turkey. uhulas@yahoo.com
authors.forename: U H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Ulas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karadas
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Odabasi
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin