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Published on: May 19, 2020
SUNCT and trigeminal neuralgia attributed to meningoencephalitis
Pablo Eguia1, Juan Carlos Garcia-Monco, Nuria Ruiz-Lavilla
1Department of Neurology, Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Carretera del Rosario 145, 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. peguia@telefonica.net
The Journal of Headache and Pain
|January 25, 2008
Summary
A woman with viral meningoencephalitis developed SUNCT syndrome and trigeminal neuralgia. Both conditions resolved with the encephalitis, suggesting a direct link between infection and these severe headache disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurovirology
Background:
- Viral meningoencephalitis is a serious central nervous system infection.
- Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) and trigeminal neuralgia (TN) are distinct headache disorders.
- The etiology of SUNCT and TN can be complex and sometimes idiopathic.
Observation:
- A 46-year-old female presented with viral meningoencephalitis, suspected to be caused by varicella-zoster virus.
- Following the onset of encephalitis, the patient developed symptoms consistent with SUNCT syndrome.
- Subsequently, she also experienced episodes of trigeminal neuralgia.
Findings:
- Both SUNCT syndrome and trigeminal neuralgia resolved concurrently with the resolution of the viral meningoencephalitis.
- This parallel resolution strongly suggests a causal relationship between the intracranial infection and the development of these headache syndromes.
- The clinical presentation indicated that headache secondary to intracranial infection can manifest with features of SUNCT or TN.
Implications:
- Intracranial infections, such as viral meningoencephalitis, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with SUNCT or trigeminal neuralgia.
- This case highlights a potential neuroinflammatory pathway linking viral infections to specific trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias and neuropathic pain.
- Further research into the neuroimmunological mechanisms underlying post-infectious headache syndromes is warranted.
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