[Cluster headache. A clinical study]

The personal experience with cluster headache in 108 patients is reported. Significant clinical findings included a clear male predominance, with a male/female prevalence ratio of 4.7/1, the persistent homolateral character of pain during the attacks, seen in 100% of cases, and the tendency to repeat the attacks on the same side (96%). The cluster headache predominated during spring and the painful crisis, in our experience, had a clear nocturnal predominance. Regarding the signs and symptoms accompanying pain, our series was similar to those in the international literature, except for a smaller prevalence of Horner's sign in our cases. The association with tenderness of the carotid territory ipsilateral to pain is reported here for the first time. The importance of a correct anamnesis of all parameters associated with pain is emphasized in the present study, as in many patients only a detailed investigation permits an adequate clinical definition.