Indomethacin-Responsive Headache Disorders. 2024

Peter J Goadsby

OBJECTIVE This article describes the clinical features and treatment of the indomethacin-responsive headache disorders paroxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua. Both paroxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua are treated with indomethacin at the lowest clinically useful dose. It has recently become clear that some patients with either condition may respond to treatment with noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation, which can be both indomethacin sparing and, in some cases, headache controlling. Given the lifelong nature of both paroxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua, brain imaging with MRI is recommended when the conditions are identified, specifically including pituitary views. Paroxysmal hemicrania and hemicrania continua are indomethacin-responsive headache disorders that offer a rewarding and unique opportunity to provide marked clinical improvement when recognized and treated appropriately. These disorders share the final common pathway of the trigeminal-autonomic reflex, with head pain and cranial autonomic features, and are differentiated pathophysiologically by the pattern of brain involvement, which can be seen using functional imaging. They have distinct differential diagnoses to which the clinician needs to remain alert.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007213 Indomethacin A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAID) that inhibits CYCLOOXYGENASE, which is necessary for the formation of PROSTAGLANDINS and other AUTACOIDS. It also inhibits the motility of POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES. Amuno,Indocid,Indocin,Indomet 140,Indometacin,Indomethacin Hydrochloride,Metindol,Osmosin
D006261 Headache The symptom of PAIN in the cranial region. It may be an isolated benign occurrence or manifestation of a wide variety of HEADACHE DISORDERS. Cephalgia,Hemicrania,Bilateral Headache,Cephalalgia,Cephalodynia,Cranial Pain,Generalized Headache,Head Pain,Ocular Headache,Orthostatic Headache,Periorbital Headache,Retro-Ocular Headache,Sharp Headache,Throbbing Headache,Unilateral Headache,Vertex Headache,Bilateral Headaches,Cephalalgias,Cephalgias,Cephalodynias,Cranial Pains,Generalized Headaches,Head Pains,Headache, Bilateral,Headache, Generalized,Headache, Ocular,Headache, Orthostatic,Headache, Periorbital,Headache, Retro-Ocular,Headache, Sharp,Headache, Throbbing,Headache, Unilateral,Headache, Vertex,Headaches,Headaches, Bilateral,Headaches, Generalized,Headaches, Ocular,Headaches, Orthostatic,Headaches, Periorbital,Headaches, Retro-Ocular,Headaches, Sharp,Headaches, Throbbing,Headaches, Unilateral,Headaches, Vertex,Ocular Headaches,Orthostatic Headaches,Pain, Cranial,Pain, Head,Pains, Cranial,Pains, Head,Periorbital Headaches,Retro Ocular Headache,Retro-Ocular Headaches,Sharp Headaches,Throbbing Headaches,Unilateral Headaches,Vertex Headaches
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001341 Autonomic Nervous System The ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; and SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM taken together. Generally speaking, the autonomic nervous system regulates the internal environment during both peaceful activity and physical or emotional stress. Autonomic activity is controlled and integrated by the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, especially the HYPOTHALAMUS and the SOLITARY NUCLEUS, which receive information relayed from VISCERAL AFFERENTS. Vegetative Nervous System,Visceral Nervous System,Autonomic Nervous Systems,Nervous System, Autonomic,Nervous System, Vegetative,Nervous System, Visceral,Nervous Systems, Autonomic,Nervous Systems, Vegetative,Nervous Systems, Visceral,System, Autonomic Nervous,System, Vegetative Nervous,System, Visceral Nervous,Systems, Autonomic Nervous,Systems, Vegetative Nervous,Systems, Visceral Nervous,Vegetative Nervous Systems,Visceral Nervous Systems
D051302 Paroxysmal Hemicrania A primary headache disorder that is similar to the CLUSTER HEADACHE with unilateral head pain, but differs by its multiple short severe attacks. It is usually seen in females, and may be responsive to non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania,Episodic Paroxysmal Hemicrania,Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicranias,Episodic Paroxysmal Hemicranias,Hemicrania, Chronic Paroxysmal,Hemicrania, Episodic Paroxysmal,Hemicrania, Paroxysmal,Hemicranias, Chronic Paroxysmal,Hemicranias, Episodic Paroxysmal,Hemicranias, Paroxysmal,Paroxysmal Hemicrania, Chronic,Paroxysmal Hemicrania, Episodic,Paroxysmal Hemicranias,Paroxysmal Hemicranias, Chronic,Paroxysmal Hemicranias, Episodic
D020773 Headache Disorders Various conditions with the symptom of HEADACHE. Headache disorders are classified into major groups, such as PRIMARY HEADACHE DISORDERS (based on characteristics of their headache symptoms) and SECONDARY HEADACHE DISORDERS (based on their etiologies). (International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd ed. Cephalalgia 2004: suppl 1) Cephalgia Syndromes,Chronic Headache,Chronic Daily Headache,Headache Syndromes,Headache, Intractable,Cephalgia Syndrome,Chronic Daily Headaches,Chronic Headaches,Daily Headache, Chronic,Daily Headaches, Chronic,Headache Disorder,Headache Syndrome,Headache, Chronic,Headache, Chronic Daily,Headaches, Chronic,Headaches, Chronic Daily,Headaches, Intractable,Intractable Headache,Intractable Headaches,Syndrome, Headache

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