TY - JOUR
T1 - What have we learned about ictal epileptic headache? A review of well-documented cases
AU - Parisi, Pasquale
AU - Striano, Pasquale
AU - Verrotti, Alberto
AU - Villa, Maria Pia
AU - Belcastro, Vincenzo
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - Purpose: The case report published in this issue by Wang et al. offers us an opportunity to review previously published "ictal epileptic headache" cases and draw attention to the criteria that have recently been published for this condition, taking into consideration not only the clinical-EEG and physiopathogenetic investigations required to diagnose this condition, but also the therapeutic aspects of the issue. Methods: To this aim we reviewed all well-documented cases that have been reported in the literature. Results: The relationship between headache and seizures is somewhat complicated. Although the nature of this association is not yet fully clear, several plausible explanations have been proposed. Further experimental and clinical investigations are, however, warranted to gain a better understanding of this relationship. Epilepsy and idiopathic headache/migraine share several pathophysiological mechanisms; a better understanding of these mechanisms will allow us to more accurately to assess the "real burden" and prevalence of the "ictal epileptic headache" phenomenon and its therapeutic implications. Conclusions: The development of animal models and molecular studies and, above all, multicenter clinical studies conducted according to the proposed IEH criteria represent the starting point for a definitive international consensus on this intriguing topic. In addition, to improve the recognition of ictal epileptic headache, we should encourage the use of EEG recording in the emergency setting.
AB - Purpose: The case report published in this issue by Wang et al. offers us an opportunity to review previously published "ictal epileptic headache" cases and draw attention to the criteria that have recently been published for this condition, taking into consideration not only the clinical-EEG and physiopathogenetic investigations required to diagnose this condition, but also the therapeutic aspects of the issue. Methods: To this aim we reviewed all well-documented cases that have been reported in the literature. Results: The relationship between headache and seizures is somewhat complicated. Although the nature of this association is not yet fully clear, several plausible explanations have been proposed. Further experimental and clinical investigations are, however, warranted to gain a better understanding of this relationship. Epilepsy and idiopathic headache/migraine share several pathophysiological mechanisms; a better understanding of these mechanisms will allow us to more accurately to assess the "real burden" and prevalence of the "ictal epileptic headache" phenomenon and its therapeutic implications. Conclusions: The development of animal models and molecular studies and, above all, multicenter clinical studies conducted according to the proposed IEH criteria represent the starting point for a definitive international consensus on this intriguing topic. In addition, to improve the recognition of ictal epileptic headache, we should encourage the use of EEG recording in the emergency setting.
KW - Autonomic seizures
KW - Clinical-EEG criteria
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Epilepsy
KW - Headache
KW - Headache and epilepsy comorbidity
KW - Ictal epileptic headache
KW - Ictal epileptic semiology
KW - Migraine
KW - New classification criteria
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U2 - 10.1016/j.seizure.2013.01.013
DO - 10.1016/j.seizure.2013.01.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 23428422
AN - SCOPUS:84876045165
VL - 22
SP - 253
EP - 258
JO - Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
JF - Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
SN - 1059-1311
IS - 4
ER -