Laser-evoked cortical potentials in cluster headache

Craniofacial nociceptive processing in patients (n = 25) suffering from unilateral cluster headache was assessed by laser-evoked cortical potentials (LEPs). Latencies and amplitudes of late (N2, P2) and middle-latency (N1) LEPs were measured in chronic (CCH, n = 9) and episodic cluster headache (ECH, n = 17). In CCH patients on headache side N1c occurred later and P2 amplitude was smaller than on the healthy control side. In active periods of ECH patients P2 latency was shorter on the headache side. In remission periods of ECH patients the N2P2 ratio was lower on the headache side. In 19 out of 26 examinations in 25 headache patients LEP deviated from normative data in healthy controls (n = 10) without any specific pattern of altered parameters. LEPs document pathological changes in craniofacial nociception in cluster headache. However, there seems to be no pathognomonic deviation pattern that enables reliable diagnosis of cluster headache and application of LEPs in further studies of pathophysiological mechanisms.