title: Nighttime blood pressure in cluster headache.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been proposed that desaturation of oxygen during an apnea event is the trigger for cluster headache. Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with a higher than normal cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Some obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients lack the sleep-related, nocturnal decrease, or "dip" in blood pressure, which is seen in normal individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess whether this non-dipper pattern is present in cluster headache patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 normotensive cluster headache patients underwent an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. "Non dippers" were defined as patients with a nighttime mean blood pressure fall <10%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen cluster headache patients (50%) were non-dippers, a frequency higher than expected. The pattern of nocturnal non-dipping is associated with a higher body mass index. Non-dipper patients displayed higher mean nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No significant difference was observed in the mean 24-hour and daytime blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high incidence (50%) of non-dipper pattern in both processes, cluster headache and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, provides support for the hypothesis of a relationship between theses 2 disorders.
authors: Department of Neurology, Clinical University Hospital Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain. ssantosl@yahoo.com
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Santos Lasaosa
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Navarro Calzada
authors: Alba
authors: A
authors: Velázquez Benito
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Pérez Lázaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology