title: Headache in relapse and remission phases of multiple sclerosis: A case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Headaches are one of the most frequent reasons for pain in multiple sclerosis (MS) individuals. Characterization of headaches and delineating possible relationships with MS-related determinants can ultimately circumvent headaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective case-control study, 65 Iranian relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients and 65 healthy controls were recruited during patients' admission for attack-period treatment and asked about characteristics and co-symptoms of headaches they experienced in the preceding week and usage of disease modifying drugs (DMDs) and types of MS attacks were also inquired. The same questions were asked from the same patients 3 months later in a follow-up visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 57 patients and 57 controls were included in the final analyses. In total, 26 (45.6%) patients in relapse, 18 (27.7%) controls, and 22 (38.6%) patients in remission reported headaches and only significant difference existed between relapse patients and controls (P = 0.036). In headache prevalence was higher in patients in relapse phase having MS < 3 years compared to relapse patients with more than 3 years of MS (68 vs. 28.1%; P = 0.004). Other variables of interest did not differ among the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RRMS patients in relapse phase suffer from headaches more than healthy people do.
authors.affiliation: Headache Research Center, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute AND Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Togha
authors.affiliation: Headache Research Center, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abbasi Khoshsirat
authors.affiliation: Headache Research Center, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute AND Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdorreza Naser
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Moghadasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Faezeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mousavinia
authors.affiliation: Headache Research Center, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute AND Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mozafari
authors.affiliation: Headache Research Center, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute AND Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neishaboury
authors.affiliation: Headache Research Center, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute AND Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mahmood
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mousavi
keywords: Case-Control Studies; Headache; Multiple Sclerosis; Relapse; Remission