In episodic cluster headache, pain extent is not related to widespread pressure pain sensitivity, psychological outcomes, or clinical outcomes

Author(s):  
Stella Fuensalida-Novo ◽  
María Palacios-Ceña ◽  
Deborah Falla ◽  
Maria L. Cuadrado ◽  
Ángel L. Guerrero ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2;23 (4;2) ◽  
pp. 219-227
Author(s):  
César Fernández-de-las-Peñas

Background: A method for assessing dynamic muscle hyperalgesia (dynamic pressure algometry) has been developed and applied in tension-type and migraine headaches. Objectives: To investigate differences in dynamic pressure pain assessment over the trigeminal area between men with cluster headache (CH) and headache-free controls, and the association between dynamic and static pressure pain sensitivity. Study Design: A case-control study. Setting: Tertiary urban hospital. Methods: Forty men with episodic CH and 40 matched controls participated. Dynamic pressure pain sensitivity was assessed with a dynamic pressure algometry set consisting of 8 rollers with different fixed levels (500, 700, 850, 1,350, 1,550, 2,200, 3,850, and 5,300 g). Each roller was moved at a speed of 0.5 cm/sec over a diagonal line covering the temporalis muscle from an anterior to posterior direction. The dynamic pressure threshold (DPT; load level of the first painful roller) and the pain intensity perceived at the DPT level (roller-evoked pain) were assessed. Static pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were also assessed with a digital pressure algometer applied statically over the mid-muscle belly of the temporalis. Patients were assessed in a remission phase, at least 3 months from the last cluster attack, and without preventive medication. Results: Side-to-side consistency between DPTs (r = 0.781, P < 0.001), roller-evoked pain on DPT (r = 0.586; P < 0.001), and PPTs (r = 0.874; P < 0.001) were found in men with CH. DPT was moderately, bilaterally, and side-to-side associated with PPTs (0.663 > r > 0.793, all P < 0.001). Men with CH had bilateral lower DPT and PPT and reported higher levels of rollerevoked pain (all P < 0.001) than headache-free controls. Limitations: Only men with episodic CH were included. Conclusions: This study supports that a dynamic pressure algometry is as valid as a static pressure algometry for assessing pressure pain sensitivity in patients with CH. Assessing both dynamic and static pain sensitivity may provide new opportunities for differentiated diagnostics. Key words: Cluster headache, dynamic pressure pain, pressure pain threshold


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesar Fernández-de-las-Peñas ◽  
Deborah Falla ◽  
María Palacios-Ceña ◽  
Stella Fuensalida-Novo ◽  
Jose L. Arias-Buría ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
María Palacios-Ceña ◽  
Stella Fuensalida-Novo ◽  
María L Cuadrado ◽  
Carlos Ordás-Bandera ◽  
Pascal Madeleine ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Spatial changes in pressure sensitivity have been described in migraine and tension-type headaches. Our aim was to determine differences in the spatial distribution of pressure pain sensitivity of the temporalis muscle between cluster headache (CH) patients and headache-free controls; (2) Methods: Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were determined over nine points covering the temporalis muscle in 40 men with episodic CH and 40 matched headache-free controls in a blinded fashion. Topographical pressure pain sensitivity maps were constructed based on interpolation of the PPTs. Patients were evaluated in a pain-free period (remission phase), at least 3 months from the last attack and without medication; (3) Results: The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) found significant difference between points (F = 21.887; P < 0.001) and groups (F = 24.416; P = 0.602), but not between sides (F = 0.440; P = 0.508). No effect of depression (F = 0.014; P = 0.907) or anxiety (F = 0.696; F = 0.407) was observed. A post-hoc analysis revealed: 1) lower PPTs at all points in patients than in controls, 2) an anterior-to-posterior gradient in patients but not in controls, with lower PPTs located in the anterior column. Large between-groups effects were shown in all points (standardized mean difference, SMD > 0.8); (4) Conclusions: Bilateral pressure pain hypersensitivity to pressure pain in the temporalis muscle and an anterior-to-posterior gradient to pressure pain was observed in men with episodic CH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 251581632110156
Author(s):  
Brian Plato ◽  
J Scott Andrews ◽  
Mallikarjuna Rettiganti ◽  
Antje Tockhorn-Heidenreich ◽  
Jennifer Bardos ◽  
...  

Objective: The efficacy of galcanezumab was evaluated in patients with episodic cluster headache and history of preventive treatment failure. Methods: In the randomized, 8-week, double-blind study (CGAL), patients with episodic cluster headache received once-monthly subcutaneous injections of galcanezumab 300 mg or placebo. Patients who completed CGAL and enrolled in an open-label study were queried for preventive treatment history. In a subset of patients with a known history of failure of verapamil or any other prior preventive treatment, a post hoc analysis of least square mean change from baseline in weekly cluster headache attack frequency across Weeks 1 to 3 was assessed. Results: Fifteen patients provided data for known history of prior preventive treatment failure (6 placebo, 9 galcanezumab), of whom 11 failed verapamil. The mean reduction in the weekly frequency of cluster headache attacks was greater with galcanezumab compared to placebo among patients with prior preventive treatment failure (8.2 versus 2.4); mean difference 5.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0, 13.6) and among patients with verapamil failure (10.1 versus 1.6); mean difference 8.5 (95% CI 0.4, 16.7). Conclusion: In this exploratory analysis of patients with a known history of prior preventive treatment failures, treatment with galcanezumab resulted in greater mean reductions in weekly cluster headache attacks compared with placebo. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02397473 (I5Q-MC-CGAL) NCT02797951 (I5Q-MC-CGAR)


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Pallisgaard Støve ◽  
Rogerio Pessoto Hirata ◽  
Thorvaldur Skuli Palsson

Abstract Objectives The effect of stretching on joint range of motion is well documented, and although sensory perception has significance for changes in the tolerance to stretch following stretching the underlining mechanisms responsible for these changes is insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of endogenous pain inhibitory mechanisms on stretch tolerance and to investigate the relationship between range of motion and changes in pain sensitivity. Methods Nineteen healthy males participated in this randomized, repeated-measures crossover study, conducted on 2 separate days. Knee extension range of motion, passive resistive torque, and pressure pain thresholds were recorded before, after, and 10 min after each of four experimental conditions; (i) Exercise-induced hypoalgesia, (ii) two bouts of static stretching, (iii) resting, and (iv) a remote, painful stimulus induced by the cold pressor test. Results Exercise-induced hypoalgesia and cold pressor test caused an increase in range of motion (p<0.034) and pressure pain thresholds (p<0.027). Moderate correlations in pressure pain thresholds were found between exercise-induced hypoalgesia and static stretch (Rho>0.507, p=0.01) and exercise-induced hypoalgesia and the cold pressor test (Rho=0.562, p=0.01). A weak correlation in pressure pain thresholds and changes in range of motion were found following the cold pressor test (Rho=0.460, p=0.047). However, a potential carryover hypoalgesic effect may have affected the results of the static stretch. Conclusions These results suggest that stretch tolerance may be linked with endogenous modulation of pain. Present results suggest, that stretch tolerance may merely be a marker for pain sensitivity which may have clinical significance given that stretching is often prescribed in the rehabilitation of different musculoskeletal pain conditions where reduced endogenous pain inhibition is frequently seen.


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