Primary headache types in adult epilepsy patients

European Journal of Medical Research

Research

Tamir Avidgor¹  Sana Hannan¹  Gerhard Luef²  Gerald Walser²  Carlo Lorenzen²  Manuela Kaml²  Iris Unterberger²  Vera Filippi³  Gregor Broessner³  Katharina Schiller⁴  Markus Rauchenzauner⁵ 

[1] Analytical Neurophysiology Lab, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada;Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Unit, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria;Department of Neurology, Headache Outpatient Clinic, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria;Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Hospital Ostallgaeu, Kaufbeuren, Germany;Analytical Neurophysiology Lab, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada;Department of Pediatrics, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria;Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Hospital Ostallgaeu, Kaufbeuren, Germany;Department of Pediatrics, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria;

关键词: Headache;    Epilepsy;    AED;    Migraine;    Tension-type headache;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40001-023-01023-8

 received in 2022-05-06, accepted in 2022-07-29,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHeadache is among the most common comorbidities in epilepsy. This study examined the distribution of different primary headache disorders in a large cohort of patients with diagnosed epilepsy. Headache types were analysed with regard to gender, type of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).MethodsIn this prospective single-centre study, 500 patients with epilepsy (250 female, mean age: 45.52 ± 17.26 years) were evaluated with regards to primary headache types using a validated German headache questionnaire categorizing for migraine (MIG), tension-type headache (TTH) or trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TAC), their combinations and unclassifiable headache. Data regarding type of epilepsy, seizure-associated headache, AED treatment and seizure freedom were collected.ResultsOf 500 patients with epilepsy, 163 (32.6%) patients (108 female and 55 male) reported suffering from headaches at least 1 day per month. MIG (without aura, with aura) and TTH were the most frequent headache type (MIG 33.1%, TTH 33.1%). Female epilepsy patients reported headaches significantly more often than male patients (x2 = 8.20, p = 0.0042). In contrast, the type of epilepsy did not significantly affect headache distribution. Of 163 patients with headache, 66 (40.5%) patients reported seizure-associated headache and AEDs were used by 157 patients. Of importance, patients with AED monotherapy suffered from MIG less often when compared to patients on polytherapy (x2 = 4.79, p = 0.028).ConclusionMIG and TTH are the most common headache types in epilepsy patients and headache is more frequent among female epilepsy patients. Monotherapy in AEDs might have a beneficial effect on the frequency of headache compared to polytherapy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023