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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Preventing chronicity of migraine
Marcello Fanciullacci1, Francesco De Cesaris
1Headache Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 18, I-50139, Firenze, Italy. fanciullac.marcello@tiscalinet.it
Chronic migraine and transformed migraine are conditions with a progression from episodic to chronic headache, a disabling stage. During attack, cutaneous allodynia frequently occurs: it reflects sensitisation of the central neurons of the trigeminovascular system. Early triptan therapy (prior to the development of central sensitisation) may protect from the chronicisation of migraine. In addition, early recognition of non-headache changes in neurologic function between episodes of headache offers a sensitive indicator of headache transformation. Attack frequency is the stronger predictor for migraine progression: prophylactic agents could be administered to patients with a high number of attacks. Medication overuse is the most important iatrogenic risk factor for the acceleration of disease and it must be prevented; other important risk factors are female sex, obesity and stressful life events.
Chronic migraine and transformed migraine are conditions with a progression from episodic to chronic headache, a disabling stage. During attack, cutaneous allodynia frequently occurs: it reflects sensitisation of the central neurons of the trigeminovascular system. Early triptan therapy (prior to the development of central sensitisation) may protect from the chronicisation of migraine. In addition, early recognition of non-headache changes in neurologic function between episodes of headache offers a sensitive indicator of headache transformation. Attack frequency is the stronger predictor for migraine progression: prophylactic agents could be administered to patients with a high number of attacks. Medication overuse is the most important iatrogenic risk factor for the acceleration of disease and it must be prevented; other important risk factors are female sex, obesity and stressful life events.
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