Idiopathic Stabbing Headache Research Articles

Blepharoclonus, Pseudoasterixis, and Restless Feet

To report a syndrome in 30 patients characterized by headache, myoclonic tremors of the eyelids (blepharoclonus), action tremors of the hands on flexion-extension movements at the wrists simulating asterixis (pseudoasterixis) and habitual diurnal movements of the feet. Ten patients are described in detail. Clinical history, neurologic examination, computed tomography of the head, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, electroencephalogram, electromyogram, and nerve conduction velocities. Headaches were diagnosed according to the International Headache Society classification. A retrospective uncontrolled review of the cases collected by the author was completed. Seven patients had migraine with aura and 8 without aura; 3 had both migraine and tension headache, 11 had tension headache, 2 had cluster headache, and 1 had idiopathic stabbing headache. None of the patients had tumoral lesions or vascular malformations of the brain. Eight of the subjects had history of somnambulism and 9 had family history of somnambulism. Restless legs syndrome was present in 8 patients in addition to restless feet. Some evidence of axonal peripheral neuropathy was present in 13 patients. This report supports the notion that in certain cases, an association exists between headache, involuntary movement disorders, and peripheral neuropathy. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of this syndrome.

Prevalência e características da cefaléia idiopática em punhaladas em uma população de migranosos

Idiopathic stabbing headache is a quite unknown disorder. Its main features consist of brief stabbing pains, lasting few seconds. In most cases, idiopathic stabbing headache is underdiagnosed. We have followed up migraine patients during a period of 12 months, aiming to determine the prevalence and main features of idiopathic stabbing headache while occurring apart from migraine attacks. Two hundred and thirty-three of the 280 patients initially surveyed were included in the analysis of the results. Ninety-four patients presented idiopathic stabbing headaches (40.4%), being 72 of them females (76.5%). For migraine with idiopathic stabbing headaches, mean age, age of beginning of migraine and years with migraine were 33, 22.5 and 10.6 years, respectively. Mean duration of the idiopathic stabbing headaches was reported to be 1.42 seconds [ 1 second by 68 patients (72.4%), 2 seconds by 17 (18.1%), 3 seconds by 6 (6.3%), 4 seconds by 1 (1.05%) and 5 seconds by 2 (2.15%)]. Pain paroxysms were reported to be unilateral by 86 (91.4%) and bilateral by 8 (8.6%) of the cases. They were reported to be temporal by 56 patients (60%), occipital by 15 (15.6%), frontal by 8 (8.5%), temporo-occipital by 7 (7.4%), parietal by 5 (5.3%), fronto-temporal by 1 (1.06%), cervical by 1 (1.06%) and ocular by 1 patient (1.06%). The study confirms a high prevalence of idiopathic stabbing headaches in migraineurs. Its main clinical features could be well determined during the interval between migraine attacks.

Idiopathic Stabbing Headache Associated With Monocular Visual Loss

Idiopathic stabbing headache, which is a brief, sharp, severe jabbing pain that is confined to the head, responds well to treatment with indomethacin sodium. It may occur as a primary entity but more likely is associated with other types of headache, including migraine. Emergency department of a teaching hospital. A 27-year-old man presented to the emergency department with stabbing, sharp pain in the right temporal area associated with complete of loss vision in his right eye. The patient had a history of migraine with aura since 1995. The patient was treated with oxygen inhalation and indomethacin, with complete resolution of his symptoms. A case of idiopathic stabbing headache associated with monocular visual loss was relieved by oxygen and indomethacin therapy.

SUNCT syndrome versus idiopathic stabbing headache (jabs and jolts syndrome).

Both SUNCT syndrome and idiopathic stabbing headache (ISH) (jabs and jolts syndrome) have to be considered when encountering shortlasting headaches. Since there are no specific tests for these headaches, the differential diagnosis depends entirely upon assessment of the clinical features. These headaches are generally easily distinguishable clinically. There seem to be symptomatic forms of SUNCT.

The Vågå Study: an outline of the design.

We carried out an epidemiological study of headache in a rural parish in the mountainous region of southern Norway. During a 2-year period from October 1995, 1838 parishioners in the age range 18-65 (or 88.6% of the target group) were examined in a structured interview based on a questionnaire. The questionnaires were validated in two ways: 100 records were re-checked, with a consistency of 98%, and a re-check of 41 parishioners was carried out > 2 months after the 1st examination. The details of the latter control study will be reported later. Only one result of the study is given: namely, idiopathic stabbing headache ("jabs and jolts syndrome") was present in > 30% of parishioners.

Juvenile Idiopathic Stabbing Headache

A series of 83 juvenile patients with idiopathic stabbing headache, 3.3% of all juvenile patients referred because of recurrent headache, is reported from the Paediatric Neurology Services of the University of Ferrara and the University of Padua, Italy.

Juvenile idiopathic stabbing headache.

We report on 83 juvenile patients with idiopathic stabbing headache, subjectively perceived as lasting from a fraction of a second to a few minutes. This sample was selected from among 2543 outpatients referred because of recurrent headache to the Paediatric Neurology Services of Ferrara and Padua (Italy). Other painful syndromes were excluded by clinical examination and appropriate tests. Idiopathic stabbing headache in the pediatric age group, contrary to the adult form, is usually not associated with other primary headache syndromes. We suggest that this clinical picture should be more clearly defined in the future, in order to better understand its relationships with other primary headaches.

Idiopathic stabbing headache (jabs and jolts syndrome)

The clinical features of idiopathic stabbing headache ("jabs and jolts syndrome") were studied in 38 patients who were diagnosed throughout a 1-year period. Mean age at the onset of symptoms was 47.1 years +/- 14.5 (SD), and a clear female preponderance was demonstrated (female/male ratio = 6.6). Painful attacks were ultrashort, i.e. virtually all attacks in more than two thirds of cases lasted only one second. The frequency of attacks varied immensely, ranging from 1 attack per year to 50 attacks daily. The pain paroxysms usually occurred with an irregular or sporadic temporal pattern. The localization of painful attacks was reported frequently as unifocal, usually in the orbital area, but also multifocal patterns were observed, the attacks frequently changing location from one area to the next. The majority of attacks occurred spontaneously, and accompanying phenomena were reported only rarely. Indomethacin treatment (75 mg daily) seemed to have a complete or partial effect in most patients treated as such (n = 17).

Idiopathic Stabbing Headache in Childhood

Idiopathic Stabbing Headache in Childhood

Symptomatic and nonsymptomatic headaches in a general population.

We assessed the lifetime prevalences of headache disorders in a cross-sectional epidemiologic survey of a representative 25- to 64-year-old general population. We classified the headaches on the basis of a clinical interview and a physical and neurologic examination using the operational diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. Lifetime prevalence of idiopathic stabbing headache was 2%, of external compression headache 4%, and of cold stimulus headache 15%. Benign cough headache, benign exertional headache, and headache associated with sexual activity each occurred in 1%. Lifetime prevalence of hangover headache was 72%, of fever headache 63%, and of headache associated with disorders of nose or sinuses 15%. Headaches associated with severe structural lesions were rare. External compression headache, fever headache, headache associated with metabolic disorders, and headache associated with disorders of nose or sinuses all showed significant female preponderance. The symptomatic headaches and headaches unassociated with structural lesions were more prevalent among migraineurs. In subjects with tension-type headache, only hangover headache was overrepresented. There was no association between the headache disorders and abnormal routine blood chemistry or arterial hypertension. In women with migraine, however, diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher than in women without migraine.

Cough, Exertional, and Other Miscellaneous Headaches

We have discussed several miscellaneous headache disorders not associated with structural brain disease. The first group included those headaches provoked by "exertional" triggers in various forms. These include benign cough headache, BEH, and headache associated with sexual activity. The IHS diagnostic criteria were discussed. Benign exertional headache and cough headache were discussed together because of their substantial similarities. In general, BEH is characterized by severe, short-lived pain after coughing, sneezing, lifting a burden, sexual activity, or other similar brief effort. Structural disease of the brain or skull was the most important differential diagnosis for these disorders, with posterior fossa mass lesions being identified as the most common organic etiology. Magnetic resonance imaging with special attention to the posterior fossa and foramen magnum is the preferred method for evaluating these patients. Indomethacin is the treatment of choice. The headache associated with sexual activity is dull in the early phases of sexual excitement and becomes intense at orgasm. This headache is unpredictable in occurrence. Like BEH, the headache associated with sexual activity can be a manifestation of structural disease. Subarachnoid hemorrhage must be excluded, by CT scanning and CSF examination, in patients with the sexual headache. Benign headache associated with sexual activity has been successfully treated with indomethacin and beta-blockers. The second miscellaneous group of headache disorders includes those provoked by eating something cold or food additives, and by environmental stimuli. Idiopathic stabbing headache does not have a known trigger and appears frequently in migraineurs. Its occurrence may also herald the termination of an attack of cluster headache. Indomethacin treatment provides significant relief. Three headaches triggered by substances that are eaten were reviewed: ingestion of a cold stimulus, nitrate/nitrite-induced headache, and MSG-induced headache. For the most part, avoidance of these stimuli can prevent the associated headache. Lastly, we reviewed headache provoked by high altitude and hypoxia. The headache is part of the syndrome of AMS during its early or benign stage and the later malignant stage of HACE. The pain can be exacerbated by exercise. The best treatment is prevention via slow ascent and avoidance of respiratory depressants. Acetazolamide and dexamethasone have proved useful in preventing this syndrome.