Posttraumatic headache is a distinct headache type from migraine

Keiko Ihara; Todd J Schwedt

doi:10.1097/WCO.0000000000001247

Posttraumatic headache is a distinct headache type from migraine

Curr Opin Neurol. 2024 Jun 1;37(3):264-270. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000001247. Epub 2024 Jan 31.

Authors

Keiko Ihara^{1

2}, Todd J Schwedt³

Affiliations

¹ Japanese Red Cross Ashikaga Hospital, Ashikaga.
² Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.

PMID: 38294020
DOI: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000001247

Abstract

Purpose of review: Posttraumatic headache (PTH), a headache that develops within 7 days of a causative injury, is one of the most common secondary headaches, mostly attributed to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Because presence of preinjury headache is a risk factor for developing PTH and PTH symptoms often resemble migraine or tension-type headache, the association between PTH and primary headaches has attracted attention from clinicians and scientists.

Recent findings: Recent studies on epidemiological aspects, headache features, risk factors, imaging characteristics, and response to treatment, suggest overlapping features and distinct objective findings in PTH compared to migraine.

Summary: We argue that PTH is distinct from migraine. Therefore, PTH epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis should continue to be investigated separately from migraine.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Migraine Disorders* / complications
Migraine Disorders* / diagnosis
Migraine Disorders* / epidemiology
Post-Traumatic Headache* / diagnosis
Post-Traumatic Headache* / epidemiology
Post-Traumatic Headache* / etiology
Post-Traumatic Headache* / physiopathology