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Long‐Term Outcome of Patients With Intractable Chronic Cluster Headache Treated With Injection of Onabotulinum Toxin A Toward the Sphenopalatine Ganglion – An Observational Study
Author(s) -
Aschehoug Irina,
Bratbak Daniel Fossum,
Tronvik Erling Andreas
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/head.13398
Subject(s) - medicine , cluster headache , placebo , observational study , anesthesia , ganglion , surgery , migraine , alternative medicine , pathology , anatomy
Objectives To investigate long‐term outcomes in per‐protocol chronic cluster headache patients (n = 7), 18 and 24 months after participation in “Pilot study of sphenopalatine injection of onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of intractable chronic cluster headache.” Methods Data were collected prospectively through headache diaries, HIT‐6, and open questionnaire forms at 18 and 24 months after the first treatment. Patients had access to repeated injections when needed. Results An overall significant reduction in cluster headache attack frequency per month (57.3 ± 35.6 at baseline vs 12.4 ± 15.2 at month 18 and 24.6 ± 19.2 at month 24) was found. In addition, there was a reduction in attacks with severe and unbearably intensity (50.0 ± 38.3 at baseline vs 10.1 ± 14.7 at month 18 and 16.6 ± 13.7 at month 24) and an increase in attack free days (4.2 ± 5.9 at baseline vs 19.1 ± 9.4 at month 18 and 12.9 ± 8.8 at month 24). Conclusions Our findings suggest sustained headache relief after repeated onabotulinumtoxinA injections toward the sphenopalatine ganglion in intractable chronic cluster headache. A placebo‐controlled trial with long‐term follow‐up is warranted.