Efficacy of oxygen inhalation in sumatriptan refractory "high altitude" cluster headache attacks

Edoardo Mampreso; Ferdinando Maggioni; Federica Viaro; Caterina Disco; Giorgio Zanchin

doi:10.1007/s10194-009-0160-0

Efficacy of oxygen inhalation in sumatriptan refractory "high altitude" cluster headache attacks

J Headache Pain. 2009 Dec;10(6):465-7. doi: 10.1007/s10194-009-0160-0. Epub 2009 Sep 25.

Authors

Edoardo Mampreso¹, Ferdinando Maggioni, Federica Viaro, Caterina Disco, Giorgio Zanchin

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurosciences, Headache Centre, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 5, 35128 Padua, Italy. [email protected]

Abstract

We describe the case of a 40-year-old woman, affected by episodic cluster headache, who presented with a cluster headache triggered by exposure to high altitude. Her attacks were refractory to sumatriptan, very effective at sea level, but responded to oxygen. A pathophysiological mechanism is proposed.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Altitude Sickness / complications*
Altitude Sickness / physiopathology
Altitude Sickness / therapy
Atmospheric Pressure
Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
Cluster Headache / etiology*
Cluster Headache / physiopathology
Cluster Headache / therapy*
Drug Resistance
Female
Humans
Hypoxia / complications
Hypoxia / physiopathology
Hypoxia / therapy
Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / methods*
Serotonin Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
Serotonin Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
Sumatriptan / pharmacology*
Sumatriptan / therapeutic use
Treatment Failure
Verapamil / therapeutic use

Substances

Calcium Channel Blockers
Serotonin Receptor Agonists
Sumatriptan
Verapamil