BMJ  2007;334:558-559 (17 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.334.7593.558-c

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Occipital nerve stimulation for chronic cluster headache

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Chronic cluster headaches don't always respond to traditional medical treatments such as verapamil and lithium, leaving some patients with frequent, intense, and disabling headaches. Researchers are currently investigating occipital nerve stimulation as a possible rescue treatment and two separate teams now report that it can work well in selected patients.

Both teams treated eight patients who had had chronic cluster headaches for between two and 12 years. Five of the eight patients given unilateral stimulation from implanted electrodes said their headaches improved more than 90% during the first two years of treatment. Only two of the eight given bilateral stimulation had such dramatic improvements, although three others said their headaches got at least moderately better. When treatment was successful, it reduced both the intensity and frequency of attacks. When the stimulator failed or the batteries ran out the attacks quickly returned in both groups of patients.

With only a handful . . . [Full text of this article]


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BMJ 2007 334: 389. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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