Hemicrania Continua Subsequent to Vertebral Artery Dissection: A Case Report

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2019 Dec;28(12):104443. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2019.104443. Epub 2019 Oct 11.

Abstract

We herein report the case of a 45-year-old woman who developed a continuous hemicranial headache subsequent to vertebral artery dissection (VAD). After remission of VAD, the patient repeatedly experienced right forehead and temporal region throbbing headache, accompanied by nausea, ocular hyperemia and lacrimation of the right eye, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea. Magnetic resonance angiography did not reveal the recurrence of dissection. Daily use of indomethacin (190.8 mg/day) showed an excellent effect on the headache, suggesting that the patient had developed hemicrania continua subsequent to VAD.

Keywords: Hemicranias continua; headache; indomethacin; vertebral artery dissection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Headache / diagnosis
  • Headache / drug therapy
  • Headache / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Indomethacin / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vertebral Artery Dissection / complications*
  • Vertebral Artery Dissection / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Indomethacin