Clinical description of hemodialysis headache in end-stage renal disease patients.
BACKGROUND
Hemodialysis (HD)-related headaches are a common complaint of patients undergoing this procedure.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of headache in patients undergoing HD and to discuss their diagnostic criteria.


METHODS
The present study assessed, in a prospective manner, a series of patients consulting at a HD center in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, from November 2007 to January 2008. Only patients with HD-related headaches without previous history of primary headache were diagnosed as isolated HD headache (HDH).


RESULTS
Headache was reported by 76.1% of the patients studied. Prior to beginning dialysis, 47.9% had migraine without aura, 6.7% migraine with aura, 0.6% hemiplegic migraine, 5% episodic tension-type headache, and 2.5% migraine and tension-type headache. HDH was diagnosed in 6.7% of the patients, the most prevalent features being diffuse or temporal region location, bilateral headache, throbbing nature, and moderate severity. Seven patients with headaches between the sessions were not classified.


CONCLUSIONS
While the pathophysiology of HDH is unknown, to diagnose patients with HDH or other possible HD-related headaches remains a challenge.
Jesus
Alan Chester Feitosa de
AC
Department of Medicine, Sergipe Headache Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil. alanchester@uol.com.br
Oliveira
Hélio Araújo
HA
Paixão
Marcelo Oliveira Ribeiro
MO
Fraga
Thalyta Porto
TP
Barreto
Felipe José N
FJ
Valença
Marcelo Moraes
MM
D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires