title: Headache outcomes following treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a prospective analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze headache patterns prior to and following treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms and identify factors associated with different headache outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study of patients being treated for unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Headache patterns were established prior to aneurysm treatment and for 6 months following treatment. Factors associated with different headache outcomes were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients (n = 44), 90-day headache frequency decreased from an average of 31 days prior to aneurysm treatment to 17 days following treatment (p < 0.001). In patients with active pretreatment headaches (n = 28), 90-day headache frequency decreased from 49 days to 26 days (p = 0.002). Headache frequency was reduced in 68% of patients, while 9% of patients had new or worsened headaches following aneurysm treatment. Pretreatment migraine, more severe pretreatment headaches, higher pretreatment trait anxiety, and stent-assisted aneurysm coiling were associated with a lack of headache improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients with headaches at the time of aneurysm treatment had reductions in headache frequency during the 6 months following treatment. Potential risk factors for poor headache outcomes were identified but need to be studied further.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, USA. schwedtt@neuro.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Todd J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schwedt
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Gereau
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Evan D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kharasch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome