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Pathophysiology of Cluster Headache: Current Status and Future Directions

  • Chapter
Pathophysiology of Headaches

Part of the book series: Headache ((HEAD))

Abstract

Typical clinical features of cluster headache (CH) include trigeminal distribution of pain, circadian and circannual rhythmicity, and ipsilateral cranial autonomic features [1]. The striking circadian and circannual periodicity led to the suggestion that the hypothalamus, which is the structure involved in the human biological clock system, plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of this disorder [2]. Several studies using neuroimaging techniques or measuring hormone levels supported the hypothesis of a hypothalamic involvement [2–7]. Animal studies added further evidence regarding this hypothesis [8]. Based on previous data, even invasive treatment methods such as hypothalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) were justified. More recent studies point towards a complex neural network performance deficit in CH with complex interactions and multiple influences that will have to be unravelled in the future [9, 10].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, Essen, NA, 45122, Germany

    Mark Obermann

  2. Headache Group, Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK

    Manjit Matharu

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Correspondence to Mark Obermann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center Rigshospitalet and Glostrup Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark

    Messoud Ashina

  2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Pierangelo Geppetti

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Obermann, M., Matharu, M. (2015). Pathophysiology of Cluster Headache: Current Status and Future Directions. In: Ashina, M., Geppetti, P. (eds) Pathophysiology of Headaches. Headache. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15621-7_13

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