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A Horner-like syndrome and cluster headache. What comes first?
1Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, University Hospital MAS, University of Lund, Malmö, Sweden. Ulf.Havelius@oftal.mas.lu.se
Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica
|July 17, 2001
Summary
A prior sympathetic lesion, causing Horner-like syndrome, may be necessary for cluster headaches to develop. This finding suggests a link between sympathetic dysfunction and the onset of cluster headaches.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Cluster headache is a debilitating neurological disorder.
- The etiology of cluster headache remains incompletely understood.
- Ocular sympathetic pathways are implicated in some headache disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether a lesion in the ocular sympathetic system precedes the development of cluster headache.
- To determine if Horner-like syndrome is a prerequisite for cluster headache onset.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of cluster headache patients.
- Identification of patients with permanent Horner-like syndrome at cluster headache debut.
- Analysis of patient history and photographic evidence.
Main Results:
- Seven out of 57 cluster headache patients presented with a permanent Horner-like syndrome on the affected side.
- Five of these patients had experienced the Horner-like syndrome for years before the onset of cluster headache.
- The cluster headache in these patients was consistently on the side of the Horner-like syndrome.
Conclusions:
- A sympathetic lesion or dysfunction may be a prerequisite for cluster headache development.
- The findings suggest a potential causal link between ocular sympathetic impairment and cluster headache.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms involved.
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