Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania. IX. On the Mechanism of Attack-Related Sweating

Cephalalgia ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Saunte ◽  
David Russell ◽  
Ottar Sjaastad

In eight patients with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH), forehead sweating was measured after various provocation tests-body heating, exercise, and subcutaneous pilocarpine administration (0.1 mg/kg body weight). Evaporation was measured bilaterally on the forehead with an Evaporimeter (in g/m2/h). This was carried out in a thermo room under standardized conditions. There was no definite deficit in heat-induced or exercise-induced sweating on the symptomatic side of the forehead, contrary to findings in cluster headache. Neither did pilocarpine lead to any marked initial, temporary predominance of sweating on the symptomatic side, which has previously been found in cluster headache. In cluster headache there may be denervation supersensitivity of the sweat glands in the forehead of the symptomatic side. The present study does not therefore provide evidence for supersensitivity phenomena which could explain the homolateral forehead sweating increase seen during attacks in some CPH patients. The localized sweating increase in the forehead during attacks of CPH may possibly be a result of direct sympathetic stimulation.

Cephalalgia ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deusvenir de Souza Carvalho ◽  
Roll Salvesen ◽  
Trond Sand ◽  
Stephen E Smith ◽  
Ottar Sjaastad

Pupillometric studies were carried out in eight patients with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH) and in age- and sex-matched controls in the basal condition and after instillation of 2% tyramine (CPH, n = 5; controls, n = 17), 1% OH-amphetamine (CPH, n = 6; controls, n = 12), and 1% phenylephrine (CPH, n = 6; controls, n = 17). The pupil on the symptomatic and non-symptomatic sides in CPH patients was significantly smaller in the basal condition than in controls, particularly on the symptomatic side. The mydriatic responses to pharmacologic stimulation were essentially similar on the symptomatic and non-symptomatic sides. An evaporimetric study of the forehead sweat glands, using the body heating and pilocarpine tests, was also carried out in these patients and in age- and sex-matched controls. “Early”, “intermediate”, and “late” measurements demonstrated symmetry of forehead sweating. The findings for both methods of examination thus contrast with those in cluster headache patients. Pupillometric and forehead sweating patterns therefore suggest differences in the pathogenesis of the two headache entities. These tests may be used to distinguish CPH and cluster headache clinically.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Saunte ◽  
David Russell ◽  
Ottar Sjaastad

Eighteen cluster headache patients were studied using body heating or exercise tests; all but two of them were also studied with a pilocarpine test (0.1 mg/kg body wt, s.c.). Evaporimeter measurements were made on both sides of the forehead under standard conditions in a thermo room. Heat- and exercise-induced sweating was dearly less pronounced on the symptomatic side than on the non-symptomatic side of the forehead, and was significantly different compared to controls. Pilocarpine on the other hand induced a clearly more pronounced response on the symptomatic side than on the non-symptomatic side, which was also statistically significantly higher than in the control group. These findings suggest a supersensitivity of the sweat glands to pilocarpine on the symptomatic side of the forehead in most cases of cluster headache.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ottar Sjaastad ◽  
Carsten Saunte ◽  
JR Graham

Two new chronic paroxysmal hemicrania patients are described. In both, attacks can be precipitated mechanically by applying firm manual pressure to certain sensitive points on the neck, i.e. in the C2 area, in the transverse processes of the C4–C5 vertebrae, or beneath the posterior part o15 the skull on the symptomatic side. The most sensitive area seems to be the transverse process of C4–C5. Susceptibility to this type of attack is dependent on the flow of spontaneous attacks; attacks are easily precipitated in a phase with multiple spontaneous attacks, but are not readily precipitated otherwise. Under indomethacin protection, local tenderness is clearly diminished and attacks cannot be precipitated.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 1488-1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Miller ◽  
Susie Lagrata ◽  
Manjit Matharu

Background Multiple cranial nerve blocks of the greater and lesser occipital, supraorbital, supratrochlear and auriculotemporal nerves are widely used in the treatment of primary headaches. We present efficacy and safety data for these procedures. Methods In an uncontrolled open-label prospective study, 119 patients with chronic cluster headache, chronic migraine, short lasting unilateral neuralgiform attack disorders, new daily persistent headaches, hemicrania continua and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania were examined. All had failed to respond to greater occipital nerve blocks. Response was defined as a 50% reduction in either daily attack frequency or moderate-to-severe headache days after 2 weeks. Results The response rate of the whole cohort was 55.4%: Chronic cluster headache, 69.2%; chronic migraine, 49.0%; short lasting unilateral neuralgiform attack disorders, 56.3%; new daily persistent headache, 10.0%; hemicrania continua, 83.3%; and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, 25.0%. Time to benefit was between 0.50 and 33.58 hours. Benefit was maintained for up to 4 weeks in over half of responders in all groups except chronic migraine and paroxysmal hemicrania. Only minor adverse events were recorded. Conclusion Multiple cranial nerve blocks may provide an efficacious, well tolerated and reproducible transitional treatment for chronic headache disorders when greater occipital nerve blocks have been unsuccessful.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Russell ◽  
Liv Storstein

Ambulatory ECG recordings have been carried out in five patients suffering from CPH. During the study a total of 105 attacks occurred. Contrary to findings in cluster headache, no typical pattern of heart rate change was found in association with attacks of CPH. A striking finding in all patients, however, was that there were often large and rapid variations in heart rate which could be observed “before”, “during” or “after” the attacks. One patient developed bradycardia and sino-atrial block and another bundle branch block together with episodes of atrial fibrillation in association with attacks.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 448-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Goadsby ◽  
L Edvinsson

Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH) is a rare headache syndrome of short-lasting attacks of pain, characterized clinically by trigemino-parasympathetic activation. The features of the headache are severe attacks of pain that generally last no more than minutes in association with autonomic activation, such as lacrimation or rhinorrhea. We report a patient fulfilling International Headache Society guidelines for the diagnosis of CPH in whom levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were elevated in the cranial circulation during attacks. Moreover, successful treatment of the problem with indomethacin leads to normalization of the levels of both CGRP and VIP. Given that similar neuropeptide changes are seen in cluster headache the data suggest a shared underlying pathophysiology between CPH and cluster headache.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Sjaastad ◽  
ELH Spierings ◽  
C Saunte ◽  
Maria M Wysocka Bakowska ◽  
I Sulg ◽  
...  

Various autonomic parameters have been studied in two patients with “hemicrania continua”, a newly described unilateral headache which is aborted by indomethacin. Striking findings were made on pupillometry: In both patients, isocoria was present when untreated. Bilateral instillation of tyramine in the conjunctival sac resulted in a late appearing anisocoria, with the smaller pupil on the symptomatic side. Indomethacin medication corrected this anomaly. These findings add further evidence to our firm belief that “hemicrania continua” differs fundamentally from chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, where such pupillometric changes are not found. There thus seem to be at least two different types of hemicranias with an absolute indomethacin effect.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D Drummond

Facial temperature was measured thermographically and pupillary diameter recorded photographically during and between episodes of headache and during spontaneous remission of headache in a patient with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH). Heat loss from the orbit, nose, cheek and temple was 0.75–1.5°C greater on the symptomatic side during headache, and 0.25–0.75°C greater between headache episodes. Heat loss from these regions of the face was symmetrical during remission of headache. Extensive rhinorrhoea, and slight ptosis and miosis were observed during the active phase of CPH. These findings, which are similar to those previously reported in cluster headache, suggest that CPH is associated with an ocular sympathetic deficit and with overactivity in the greater superficial petrosal nerve.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ottar Sjaastad ◽  
David Russell ◽  
Carsten Saunte ◽  
Ivar Hørven

In four of the approximately 40 cases of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH) that are known so far, attacks that are similar to the spontaneous ones may be precipitated by head movements or pressure against certain points in the neck. Head flexion was used as the precipitation procedure in a 34-year-old female who was studied several times in the course ot five years. Attacks occur within 5-40 sec, and the pain is preceded by tearing and conjunctival injection. External rubbing or external compression of the common and internal carotid arteries on the symptomatic side did not produce attacks. The combination of head flexion and external compression of the common or internal carotid arteries on the symptomatic side invariably produced an attack of usual severity and within the usual time. This investigation would seem to render unlikely the possibility of a primary vascular mediation of the signal from the neck to the ocular region. Sympathetic fibres are the likely mediators of the impulses from the neck to the ocular area.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document