The journal of headache and pain
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Recurrence was first recognised as a clinical problem in 1989 with the advent of sumatriptan. The history of recurrence in early sumatriptan randomised clinical trials is described. Recurrence has been ascribed to patient-dependent factors but experience with ergot alkaloids suggested that recurrence can also be treatment-dependent. Possible mechanisms for recurrence are discussed.
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A 34-year-old woman with a previous history of severe headache ("thunderclap") was admitted with a diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The patient developed symptomatic vasospasm on day 5 that resolved rapidly after having increased arterial blood pressure. She experienced also short-lasting excruciating headache. ⋯ The patient complained of multiple episodes of extremely severe headache ("thunderclap"), with also transient dysarthria and hemiparesia on day 30. She was discharged on day 38 after full recovery. The clinical and TCD/radiological findings were consistent with a reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome overlapping SAH related symptomatic vasospasm.