Sensory function in cluster headache: an observational study comparing the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides

• Main Authors: Malo-Urriés M, Hidalgo-García C, Estébanez-de-Miguel E, Tricás-Moreno JM, Santos-Lasaosa S, Jahanshahi M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-12-01
• Series: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
• Subjects: Cluster headache; Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia; Quantitative sensory testing
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/sensory-function-in-cluster-headache-an-observational-study-comparing--peer-reviewed-article-NDT

Miguel Malo-Urriés,1 César Hidalgo-García,1 Elena Estébanez-de-Miguel,1 José Miguel Tricás-Moreno,1 Sonia Santos-Lasaosa,2 Marjan Jahanshahi3 1Physiotherapy Research Unit, Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; 2Neurology Service, University Clinical Hospital Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain; 3Cognitive Motor Neuroscience Group, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK Background: Based on inconsistent sensory alterations demonstrated in cluster headache (CH), the aim of this study was to determine whether patients with CH develop sensory changes in the symptomatic side compared to the asymptomatic side.Methods: Quantitative sensory testing (QST), including pressure pain threshold (PPT), tactile detection threshold (TDT), prick detection threshold (PDT), and two-point detection threshold (2PDT), was evaluated in 16 patients (seven women; age 41.9±6.8 years) with CH. Test sites included the first, second, and third divisions of the trigeminal nerve, cervical spine, and thenar eminence in the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides.Results: The symptomatic side, compared to the asymptomatic side, presented significantly decreased PPT in the first (P=0.011; 423.81±174.05 kPa vs 480.13±214.99 kPa) and second (P=0.023; 288.88±140.80 kPa vs 326.38±137.33 kPa) divisions of the trigeminal nerve, significantly increased TDT in the first (P=0.002; 2.44±0.40 vs 1.74±0.24) and second (P=0.016; 1.92±0.34 vs 1.67±0.09) divisions, and increased 2PDT in the first division (P=0.004; 18.13±4.70 mm vs 15.0±4.92 mm) and neck (P=0.007; 45.31±20.65 mm vs 38.44±16.10 mm).Conclusion: These results support the prior evidence suggesting a specific pattern of alteration of sensory function with alterations in the symptomatic side compared to the asymptomatic side. Keywords: cluster headache, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia, quantitative sensory testing