Clinical description of hemodialysis headache in end-stage renal disease patients
BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis (HD)-related headaches are a common complaint of patients undergoing this procedure. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of headache in patients undergoing HD and to discuss their diagnostic criteria. METHOD: The present study assessed, in a prospective manner, a series of patients consulting at a HD center in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, from November 2007 to January 2008. Only patients with HD-related headaches without previous history of primary headache were diagnosed as isolated HD headache (HDH). RESULTS: Headache was reported by 76.1% of the patients studied. Prior to beginning dialysis, 47.9% had migraine without aura, 6.7% migraine with aura, 0.6% hemiplegic migraine, 5% episodic tension-type headache, and 2.5% migraine and tension-type headache. HDH was diagnosed in 6.7% of the patients, the most prevalent features being diffuse or temporal region location, bilateral headache, throbbing nature, and moderate severity. Seven patients with headaches between the sessions were not classified. CONCLUSION: While the pathophysiology of HDH is unknown, to diagnose patients with HDH or other possible HD-related headaches remains a challenge.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO
2009
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| Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2009000600003 |
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