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Clinical patterns of primary stabbing headache: a single clinic-based prospective study
Dong Yeop Kim1, Mi Ji Lee1, Hyun Ah Choi1
1Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
The Journal of Headache and Pain
|April 13, 2017
Summary
Primary stabbing headache (PSH) presents diverse clinical patterns, including monophasic, intermittent, and chronic daily forms. Identifying these distinct PSH patterns aids recognition and suggests varied underlying mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Headache Medicine
- Clinical Phenotyping
Background:
- Primary stabbing headache (PSH) exhibits varied clinical presentations and disease trajectories.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize distinct clinical patterns of primary stabbing headache (PSH).
- To explore potential differences in pathophysiology based on identified PSH subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective screening of patients with stabbing headache at a specialized clinic.
- Evaluation of demographics, headache features, and disease course.
- Classification of PSH patterns based on frequency, clinical course, and duration.
Main Results:
- Three distinct PSH patterns were identified: monophasic (n=31), intermittent (n=17), and chronic daily (n=12).
- Monophasic PSH: severe, localized, daily attacks with good treatment response.
- Chronic daily PSH: female predominance, longer stabs, migratory/bilateral locations.
- Intermittent PSH: female predominance, sporadic, less intense stabs.
Conclusions:
- Distinct clinical patterns of primary stabbing headache (PSH) were identified.
- These patterns suggest potentially different pathophysiologic mechanisms.
- Further research is needed to elucidate etiologies and optimize treatment strategies for PSH subtypes.