Hemicrania continua
Synopsis
For most patients with hemicrania continua, the headache will persist for life without appropriate preventive treatment. Hemicrania continua is absolutely responsive to indomethacin, and lack of response suggests an alternative diagnosis.
There are 2 subclasses of hemicrania continua: the remitting subtype and the unremitting subtype. Patients with the remitting subtype typically experience periods of remission of headache lasting at least 24 hours in duration. In the unremitting subtype, the headache is continuous for at least 1 year without remission periods. The majority of patients have the unremitting subtype.
Hemicrania continua is a rare condition, with approximately 100 cases reported worldwide. The disorder is more common in women, with an estimated female to male ratio of 1.8 to 1. The mean age at onset is in the 30s; however, it has also been diagnosed in children and elderly individuals.
Codes
G44.51 – Hemicrania continua
SNOMEDCT:
443095000 – Hemicrania Continua
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
Subscription Required
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Updated:03/13/2018