Migraine is frequent in children and adolescents with neurofibromatosis type 1.
BACKGROUND
Despite the high prevalence of headache in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), little data exist regarding the classification and characterization of headaches experienced by these patients. This paper describes a study of headache in patients with NF1 compared with healthy controls.


METHODS
In this transversal study, participants (aged 4-19 years) were classified into two groups: NF1 patients or control subjects. The diagnosis of NF1 was performed according to the diagnostic criteria of the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference, and the headache diagnosis was performed according to the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Second Edition. All participants underwent physical and neurologic evaluation and completed a detailed headache questionnaire.


RESULTS
The comparison of 50 patients with NF1 and 50 age-matched controls revealed that the complaint of headache was significantly more frequent in the NF1 group than in the control group (CG) (62% vs 14%, χ(2)(1) = 22.4; P < 0.001). Migraine was significantly more frequent in patients with NF1 than in the CG (54% vs 14%, χ(2)(1) = 17.82; P < 0.001). No differences were found between the two groups regarding the use of simple analgesics (NF1: 14% vs CG: 5%, χ(2)(1) = 1.18; P = 0.276).


CONCLUSIONS
Children and adolescents with NF1 are prone to migraines. Complaints of headache are very frequent in this population.
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ricardo Silva
RS
Pinho
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Eduardo Ferracioli
EF
Fusão
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Joelma Karina Sagica Fernandes
JKSF
Paschoal
Department of Pediatrics/Pediatric Oncology Institute and Support Group for Children and Adolescents with Cancer, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Eliana Maria Monteiro
EMM
Caran
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.
Thaís Soares Cianciarullo
TSC
Minett
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Luiz Celso Pereira
LCP
Vilanova
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcelo Rodrigues
MR
Masruha
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence
adolescents; children; headache; migraine disorders; neurofibromatosis type 1