Cardiac cephalalgia: A deadly case report

Authors

  • Paulo Sergio Faro Santos
  • Matheus Kahakura Franco Pedro
  • Ana Carolina Andrade

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48208/HeadacheMed.2019.8

Keywords:

Cardiac Cephalalgia, Myocardial Ischemia, Cardiac Arrest

Abstract

Cardiac cephalalgia is a nosologic entity that has only been acknowledged by the turn of the century, and is, consequently, often underdiagnosed, even by experienced neurologists. Unlike most headaches, however, failing to provide a proper and timely diagnosis can have deadly consequences. Report of a case of cardiac headache attended at the emergency department and literature review. This entity was first described in 1997; no studies have yet determined its prevalence, with the literature relying on case reports. The pathophysiology remains a mystery, with three main hypothesis: spinal convergence of cardiac visceral afferent nerves with somatic afferent nerves from the head, increase of intracranial pressure from decrease in cerebral venous return originated from the reduced cardiac output, and release of inflammatory markers during cardiac ischaemia, such as bradykinin, serotonin and histamin, causing vascular changes. Distinguishing this pathology from others, especially migraine, with which it shares many traits, is of paramount importance: vasoconstrictor drugs such as triptans are absolutely contraindicated, and the outcome can be dramatic. This case illustrates the need to promptly recognize this rare entity since failure to diagnose it can have devastating consequences.

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Author Biographies

Paulo Sergio Faro Santos

Neurologist, Head of Headache and Orofacial Pain Division, Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute of Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.

Matheus Kahakura Franco Pedro

Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute of Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.

Ana Carolina Andrade

Resident, Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute of Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.

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Published

2019-03-31

How to Cite

1.
Santos PSF, Pedro MKF, Andrade AC. Cardiac cephalalgia: A deadly case report. Headache Med [Internet]. 2019 Mar. 31 [cited 2024 Dec. 14];10(1):32-4. Available from: https://www.headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/64

Issue

Section

Case Report

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