Abstract text (incl. figure legends and references)
Introduction: Cluster headache (CH) and migraine are recurrent painful primary hedaches. They are typically presented with different clinical appearance, but they show some common features, such as unilateral pain, triggers, pathophysiological mechanisms and response to therapy (triptans and monoclonal antibodies against the calcitonine-related peptide receptors). In the general population, the prevalence of CH and migraine is estimated to 0,1% and 12% respectively. Their coexistence is not common, though ranging from 0-65%1. Some data are showing that in 92% of migraine begins first and persists in only 20% of patients after CH began2.
Case report: A 30-year-old woman presented with typical CH lasting for 3 weeks. Headache was present every day, twice a day - one during a day and once during at night. If untreated duration was 3 h. Rizatriptan coud release her from pain, while ibuprofen and paracetamol were not helpful. She already had a headache with similar characteristics at the age of 17. Her migraine attacks with complex aura started at the age of 13. Attacks were quite infrequent, till age of 28, after she gave birth, and the attacks became much more frequent. In her medical history there were no other diseases and she was not taking any medication.
Conclusion: The aim of the present report was to draw attention to coexistence of CH and migraine since it can go unrecognised in clinical practice. Better education of health-care providers and spreading awarness of possibile coexistence of more primary headaches could provide better life quality for our patients. Only population-based studies can confirm or disprove an association between migraine and CH by determing whether they occur together more commonly then expected by chance.
Reference list:
1. Ewans W. et al,Migraine and CH:Coexistence,Laterality and Gender,2004,44;186-188.
2. Solomon S. et al., The time relationship of migrane and CH when occuring in the same patient, Headache, 1986;26:500-502.