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Neuromodulation in drug-resistant primary headaches: what have we learned?

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Abstract

In the last years neurostimulation procedures have been introduced to treat primary neurovascular headaches, namely cluster headache and migraine. Hypothalamic stimulation is now accepted as therapeutic procedure to treat drug-resistant chronic cluster headache when patients suffer from daily multiple attacks. The inadequacy of the definition of the term “chronic” according to the International Headache Society criteria for both cluster headache and migraine when it is used to select patients for neurostimulation procedures is now evident. On the same side, there is no agreement about the use of the term “drug-resistant” again when it is used to select patients for neurostimulation procedures. We have proposed that only patients suffering from daily neurovascular headaches in the last 1–2 years, with complete drug-resistance should be proposed for invasive procedures.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Headache Centre Neurology Department, National Neurological Institute (IRCCS) Foundation “C.Besta”, via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Massimo Leone, Alberto Proietti Cecchini & Gennaro Bussone

  2. Neurosurgery Department, National Neurological Institute (IRCCS) Foundation “C.Besta”, via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Angelo Franzini

Authors
  1. Massimo Leone
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  2. Alberto Proietti Cecchini
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  3. Angelo Franzini
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  4. Gennaro Bussone
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Correspondence to Massimo Leone.

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Leone, M., Cecchini, A.P., Franzini, A. et al. Neuromodulation in drug-resistant primary headaches: what have we learned?. Neurol Sci 32 (Suppl 1), 23–26 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0554-z

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