[P04.190] Headache in Multiple Sclerosis. Clinical and Therapeutical Correlations

Chiara Monaldini, Jay Guido Capone, Maria Luisa Caniatti, Ilaria Casetta, Ferrara, Italy, Susanna Guttmann, San Marino, Repubblica di San Marino, San Marino, Enrico Granieri, Maria Rosaria Tola, Ferrara, Italy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define the lifetime prevalence of headache in patients with MS, to classify different forms of headache in primary and secondary, to evaluate the role of chronic treatments for MS on prehexisting headache or on the development of new headache. BACKGROUND: Recent studies evaluated the relationship between headache and MS. The lifetime prevalence of headache in MS is reported between 4 and 61,8%. The headache is a rare MS onset symptom. Demyelinating brainstem lesions could cause migraine-like headache. Interferon- could provoke the worsening of a primary headache and, less frequently, the development of a new headache. DESIGN/METHODS: The study population comprised 135 consecutive patients (104 F, 31 M) with MS according to the McDonald criteria presenting for a visit to the MS Centre in Ferrara in a period of 5 months. Headache was diagnosed according to the International Headache Society Criteria. A relapsing-remitting form of MS was present in 83% of people, a primary progressive form in 2%, a secondary progressive form in 11% and a clinically isolated syndrome in 3%. The mean EDSS was 2.5. Of 135 patients, 45% used IFN-, 21% glatiramer acetate, 8% other treatments and 26% were untreated. RESULTS: Of 135 patients, 77% presented headache. The lifetime prevalence was 51,8% for migraine and 37% for tension-type headache. Studying frequency of headache in patients treated with IFN, glatiramer acetate, other therapies and untreated people we didn't find differences. Of 135 patients, 41,5% had optic neuritis and, of this group, 59% had pain associated to the visual disturbance; 4,4% had trigeminal neuralgia and 7,4% had facial pain due to central causes. CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: This study shows a higher frequence of headache in MS compared with the general population, supporting the hypothesis of a possible association between the two pathologies.
Category - MS and Related Diseases - Clinical Science

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 3:00 PM

Poster Session IV: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Diseases: Clinical Research and Pathology (3:00 PM-7:30 PM)