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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
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Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Headache and multiple sclerosis: clinical and therapeutic correlations
1Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Via Celoria, 11, 20133, Milan, Italy. lamantia@istituto-besta.it
Summary
Headache is more common in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Specific headache types and treatments can impact MS patients, suggesting a need for preventive therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimmunology
Background:
- Headache is often overlooked as a symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Studies indicate a higher prevalence of headaches in MS patients compared to the general population, affecting approximately 50%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and characteristics of headaches in patients with multiple sclerosis.
- To explore the relationship between headache occurrence, MS disease course, and therapeutic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies and clinical data on headache prevalence in multiple sclerosis patients.
- Analysis of headache types, lesion locations, and the impact of disease-modifying therapies.
Main Results:
- Headache can manifest at the onset and throughout the course of multiple sclerosis.
- Tension-type headache and migraine without aura are the most frequent primary headaches observed.
- Occipital neuralgia and cluster-like headaches are also reported, potentially linked to specific demyelination lesion sites.
- Disease-modifying therapies, including interferons, may trigger or worsen headaches in MS patients.
Conclusions:
- Multiple sclerosis patients face an elevated risk of experiencing headaches.
- Preventive headache therapies should be considered for selected MS patients undergoing chronic treatment to improve adherence and quality of life.
