Hemicrania Contínua

Abstract

Objective

To report a case of Hemicrania Continua in a girl 17 years old, who had this kind of headache for 9 years without diagnosis. Although this may be a relatively rare primary headache, the immediate response to clinical treatment with indomethacin justifies that this entity be better known. Methods: Case report of an adolescent girl who had Hemicrania Continua for many years, without diagnosis or adequate treatment. Review of the relevant medical literature in MEDLINE. Results: Treatment with low doses of indomethacin caused complete cessation of the headache. Conclusion: Hemicrania Continua should be suspected for patients who present with continuous unilateral headache without abnormalities in the clinical, neurologic and laboratory examination results, irrespective of the age when the headache starts. This is the youngest patient reported to have Hemicrania Continua, and the case was brought to discussion by a medical student aware of this possible diagnosis.

Methods

Case report of an adolescent girl who had Hemicrania Continua for many years, without diagnosis or adequate treatment. Review of the relevant medical literature in MEDLINE. Results: Treatment with low doses of indomethacin caused complete cessation of the headache. Conclusion: Hemicrania Continua should be suspected for patients who present with continuous unilateral headache without abnormalities in the clinical, neurologic and laboratory examination results, irrespective of the age when the headache starts. This is the youngest patient reported to have Hemicrania Continua, and the case was brought to discussion by a medical student aware of this possible diagnosis.

Results

Treatment with low doses of indomethacin caused complete cessation of the headache. Conclusion: Hemicrania Continua should be suspected for patients who present with continuous unilateral headache without abnormalities in the clinical, neurologic and laboratory examination results, irrespective of the age when the headache starts. This is the youngest patient reported to have Hemicrania Continua, and the case was brought to discussion by a medical student aware of this possible diagnosis.

Conclusion

Hemicrania Continua should be suspected for patients who present with continuous unilateral headache without abnormalities in the clinical, neurologic and laboratory examination results, irrespective of the age when the headache starts. This is the youngest patient reported to have Hemicrania Continua, and the case was brought to discussion by a medical student aware of this possible diagnosis.

Resumen

Objetivo

relatar um caso de Hemicrania Contínua em uma jovem de 17 anos que apresentava esse tipo de cefaléia há 9 anos, sem diagnóstico. Embora essa seja uma cefaléia primária relativamente rara, a imediata resposta ao tratamento com indometacina justifica que seja uma entidade melhor conhecida.

Métodos

relato do caso de uma adolescente que apresentava Hemicrania Continua há anos, sem diagnóstico e sem tratamento específico. Revisão da literatura médica a respeito, através de Medline.

Resultados

o tratamento clínico com baixas doses de indometacina determinou o desaparecimento completo da cefaléia.

Conclusão

a Hemicrania Contínua deve ser considerada entre as hipóteses diagnósticas de pacientes que apresentam cefaléia contínua, hemicrania, sem alterações ao exame clínico, neurológico e exames subsidiários, independentemente da idade de aparecimento. Este é o caso da paciente mais jovem com Hemicrania Contínua e foi trazido para discussão por um acadêmico de medicina, alertado para essa possibilidade diagnóstica.