Revista de neurologia
-
Revista de neurologia · Oct 2012
[Primary stabbing headache: clinical characteristics and response to treatment in a series of 67 patients].
Primary stabbing headache (PSH) is defined by the presence of short stabbing pains in the first branch of the trigeminal nerve. According to population-based studies, it is very prevalent, but most cases present stabbing pains with low frequencies and intensities that do not lead the patient to seek medical attention. ⋯ Age at onset: 34.5 ± 16.7 years. Forty-nine cases (73.1%) were associated to another headache, above all migraine. Stabbing pains were often bilateral; 38 (56.7%) patients suffered more than one a day and 11 (16.4%) had more than 10 per day. They lasted less than five seconds in 48 patients (71.6%) and more than 10 seconds in 11 of them (16.4%), with an intensity of 6.8 ± 1.5. The age of onset of PSH was higher if it was the only type of headache than if it was accompanied by others. Twenty-six (38.8%) patients required preventive treatment for the associated headache and 16 (23.8%) took indomethacin, with a similar response in the two groups (73 versus 75%). CONCLUSIONS; PSH is not infrequent in headache clinics, but its phenotype differs from that reported in population-based studies. The characteristics of PSH vary depending on whether it is the only headache or is associated with others. Preventive treatment is often required and patients respond well to it.
-
Revista de neurologia · Oct 2012
Review[Treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis: new perspectives regarding the use of cannabinoids].
Spasticity remains a prevalent symptom in multiple sclerosis, with a significant associated disability and quality of life impairment. A significant improvement in therapy aimed at reducing multiple sclerosis relapses and modifying its course has been achieved in recent years. Both general and specific traditional treatments have, however, major limitations. ⋯ Randomized, placebo-controlled trials, as well as longer-term open-label extensions, have shown a clear-cut efficacy to reduce spasticity and their associated symptoms in those patients refractory to other therapies, with a good tolerability/safety profile. No tolerance, abuse or addictive issues have been found. New studies will be needed to find out potential new cannabinoid-related therapies.
-
Revista de neurologia · Oct 2012
Historical Article[Epilepsy in literature, cinema and television].
Literature, cinema and television have often portrayed stereotypical images of people that have epilepsy and have helped foster false beliefs about the disease. ⋯ Literature, cinema and television have often dealt with the subject of epilepsy, sometimes realistically, but in many cases they have only helped to perpetuate false beliefs about this disease.
-
Revista de neurologia · Oct 2012
[Botulinum toxin A in chronic refractory migraine: premarketing experience].
Chronic migraine is very disabling, with medication overuse commonly associated. The recent approval of botulinum toxin-A -OnabotulinumtoxinA (OnabotA)- means a hallmark. ⋯ OnabotA disclosed efficacy as prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine. It is mainly expressed as a reduction of pain intensity. Medication overuse also descended. Adverse events were sparse.