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Cluster headache natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sabeeh Islam, MBBS[2]

Overview

Overview

Cluster headache is one of the most common trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. It is a life long condition and usually results in reduced quality of life and marked functional disability. Although, the frequency of episodes usually decrease with age, 80% of patients continue to experience the attacks even after 15 years of onset.

Natural History and Prognosis

Natural History and Prognosis

  • Cluster headache is one of the most common trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.[1][2][3][4]
  • It is a life long condition and usually results in reduced quality of life and marked functional disability.
  • Although, the frequency of episodes usually decrease with age, 80% of patients continue to experience the attacks even after 15 years of onset.[5][6][7]
Complications

Complications

Cluster headache if left untreated or undiagnosed, is found to be associated with increased risk of depression and suicide.[1][2]

References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 May A (2005). “Cluster headache: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management”. Lancet. 366 (9488): 843–55. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67217-0. PMID 16139660.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jensen RM, Lyngberg A, Jensen RH (June 2007). “Burden of cluster headache”. Cephalalgia. 27 (6): 535–41. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2007.01330.x. PMID 17459083.
  3. D’Amico D, Rigamonti A, Solari A, Leone M, Usai S, Grazzi L, Bussone G (December 2002). “Health-related quality of life in patients with cluster headache during active periods”. Cephalalgia. 22 (10): 818–21. doi:10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00463.x. PMID 12485209.
  4. Donnet A, Lanteri-Minet M, Guegan-Massardier E, Mick G, Fabre N, Géraud G, Lucas C, Navez M, Valade D (December 2007). “Chronic cluster headache: a French clinical descriptive study”. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry. 78 (12): 1354–8. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2006.112037. PMC 2095607. PMID 17442761.
  5. Louter MA, Wilbrink LA, Haan J, van Zwet EW, van Oosterhout WP, Zitman FG, Ferrari MD, Terwindt GM (November 2016). “Cluster headache and depression”. Neurology. 87 (18): 1899–1906. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000003282. PMID 27694264.
  6. Matharu M (February 2010). “Cluster headache”. BMJ Clin Evid. 2010. PMC 2907610. PMID 21718584.
  7. Manzoni GC, Terzano MG, Moretti G, Cocchi M (1981). “Clinical observations on 76 cluster headache cases”. Eur. Neurol. 20 (2): 88–94. doi:10.1159/000115213. PMID 7215402.

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