Should pain be the fourth vital sign?

Abstract

This article discusses the need for pain-management strategies in general practice and how they might be implemented.     

Chronic daily headache. How should it be included in the IHS classification?

A number of patients attending specialty headache centers complain of very frequent, almost continuous or continuous headaches, which are usually grouped together under the term chronic daily headache , a category which does not appear in the International Headache Society (IHS) classification. On the basis of the IHS criteria, these patients can only be classified as having a chronic tension-type headache with the possible addition of migraine, if migrainous attacks are superimposed on the "background" headache. However, several studies have demonstrated that most patients with chronic daily headache originally suffered from migraine and that their migraine has transformed, in the course of time, into a chronic headache picture in which isolated migraine attacks may or may not persist. Despite some differences in the personal opinions of authors involved in the care of patients with chronic daily headache, some views seem to be generally accepted: (1) the great majority of chronic daily headaches are transformations of an original episodic migraine and cannot be included in the chronic tension-type headache category, (2) the current IHS classification does not allow many patients presenting with chronic daily headache to be classified correctly, (3) an important nosological category (transformed migraine) has emerged from all the studies on this subject, (4) it is impossible to diagnose transformed migraine merely by "photographing" the picture of single attacks. Although some theoretical problems remain unresolved, it seems to us that the next revision of the IHS classification can no longer ignore the existence of chronic daily headache.     

Familial cluster headache. Is atypical cluster headache in family members part of the clinical spectrum?

Familial cluster headache (CH) was analysed in 21 Swedish families. Diagnosis was made according to The International Classification of Headache Disorders 2004. We identified 55 affected, of whom 42 had episodic or chronic CH, one had probable CH and 12 had atypical symptoms. The atypical cases did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for CH, but had clinical symptoms with more resemblance to CH than to migraine or other trigeminal autonomic cephalgia syndromes. The overall male : female ratio was 1.8:1. The overall mean age at onset was significantly lower in the second/third generation than in the first generation (mean age at onset 22 vs. 31 years, SD +/- 7 vs. 13 years; P < 0.01). This may be anticipation or selection bias, since individuals with late age at onset from the second/third generation may not yet have symptoms. The prevalence of migraine was 24% (13/55), i.e. similar to the prevalence in the general population. The high incidence of atypical CH cases in the Swedish families with other members affected with CH may suggest that the spectrum of CH is broader than previously thought. We suggest that atypical CH in CH families may represent an expanded spectrum of the disease with a common aetiology, i.e. a common genetic background.     

Do the proposed cervicogenic headache diagnostic criteria demonstrate specificity in terms of separating cervicogenic headache from migraine?

Diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache (CH) have been proposed. These criteria are controversial in that they appear to overlap or include characteristics that usually are attributed to migraine headache (MH). Whether these criteria are specific enough to separate CH patients from MH patients remains to be controversial. The literature on this issue is reviewed. In addition, the authors report the results of a study attempting to build a model of variables typically associated with CH or MH, which would identify patients with CH. A significant model could not be built that did not include MH symptoms. As such, it has been concluded that it is unlikely that the criteria for CH will have the specificity required to separate CH patients from MH patients.     

Paroxysmal stabbing headache in the multiple dermatomes of the head and neck: a variant of primary stabbing headache or occipital neuralgia?

A paroxysmal stabbing or icepick-like headache in the multiple nerve dermatomes, especially involving both trigeminal and cervical nerves, has not been fully explained or classified by the International Classification of Headache Disorder, 2(nd) Edition (ICHD-II). Of patients with acute-onset paroxysmal stabbing headache who had visited the Hallym University Medical Center during the last four years, 28 subjects with a repeated stabbing headache involving multiple dermatomes at the initial presentation or during the course were prospectively enrolled. All patients were neurologically and otologically symptom free. A coincidental involvement of both trigeminal and cervical nerve dermatomes included seven cases. Six cases involved initially the trigeminal and then cervical nerve dermatomes. Five cases showed an involvement of the cervical and then trigeminal nerve dermatomes. The remaining patients involved multiple cervical nerve branches (the lesser occipital, greater occipital and greater auricular). Pain lasted very shortly and a previous history of headache with the same nature was reported in 13 cases. Preceding symptom of an infection and physical and/or mental stress were manifested in seven and six subjects, respectively. All patients showed a self-limited benign course and completely recovered within a few hours to 30 days. Interestingly, a seasonal gradient in occurrence of a stabbing headache was found in this study. A paroxysmal stabbing headache manifested on multiple dermatomes can be explained by the characteristics of pain referral, and may be considered to be a variant of primary stabbing headache or occipital neuralgia.     

Can a polymorphism in the thalassemia gene and a heterozygote CFTR mutation cause acute pancreatitis?

The case of a 32-year-old black woman of African descent who suffered from repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis, initially triggered when flying on airplanes, is reported. She did not drink alcohol or smoke. Genetic analysis was negative for cationic trypsinogen, serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 and chymotrypsin C. However, hemoglobin F was elevated. Sequencing of the thalassemia gene revealed a novel alteration in the 5’ region indicative of a functional abnormality of the molecule. Sequencing the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene revealed a heterozygote sequence variant. The combination of a hemoglobin gene mutation known for thalassemia in conjunction with the hitherto undescribed CFTR mutation is suggested to pave the road for initial and repetitive pancreatitis attacks. This will be discussed.     

Non–hypothalamic cluster headache: the role of the greater occipital nerve in cluster headache pathogenesis

Cluster headache is marked by its circadian rhythmicity and the hypothalamus appears to have a significant influence over cluster pathogenesis. However, as not all cluster patients present in the same manner and not all respond to the same combination of medications, there is likely a nonhypothalamic form of cluster headache. A patient is presented who began to develop cluster headaches after receiving bilateral greater occipital nerve (GON) blockade. His headaches fit the IHS criteria for cluster headache but had some irregularities including frequent side shifting of pain, irregular duration and time of onset and the ability of the patient to sit completely still during a headache without any sense of agitation. This article will suggest that some forms of cluster headache are not primarily hypothalamic influenced and that the GON may play a significant role in cluster pathogenesis in some individuals.     

The prevalence of headache may be related with the latitude: a possible role of Vitamin D insufficiency?

According to recent observations, there is worldwide vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) in various populations. A number of observations suggest a link between low serum levels of vitamin D and higher incidence of chronic pain. A few case reports have shown a beneficial effect of vitamin D therapy in patients with headache disorders. Serum vitamin D level shows a strong correlation with the latitude. Here, we review the literature to delineate a relation of prevalence rate of headaches with the latitude. We noted a significant relation between the prevalence of both tension-type headache and migraine with the latitude. There was a tendency for headache prevalence to increase with increasing latitude. The relation was more obvious for the lifetime prevalence for both migraine and tension-type headache. One year prevalence for migraine was also higher at higher latitude. There were limited studies on the seasonal variation of headache disorders. However, available data indicate increased frequency of headache attacks in autumn–winter and least attacks in summer. This profile of headache matches with the seasonal variations of serum vitamin D levels. The presence of vitamin D receptor, 1α-hydroxylase and vitamin D-binding protein in the hypothalamus further suggest a role of vitamin D deficiency in the generation of head pain.     

Does neck pain determine the outcome of adolescent headache?

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of concomitant neck pain (NP) on the outcome of headache (HA) frequency and HA type in adolescence. A population-based sample of 13-year-olds with or without HA (n = 228) was followed for 3 years. NP was evaluated at the beginning of the follow-up on the basis of recorded muscle tenderness and self-reported symptoms. During the 3 years of follow-up, changes in both HA type and frequency were common. NP interfering with daily activities at the age of 13 years predicted change from non-frequent (0-1/month) to monthly HA (>1/month), especially in boys (P = 0.03 boys, P = 0.06 girls). The use of physiotherapy predicted persistence of monthly HA in boys (P = 0.004). The changes in HA type were not predictable by NP. In conclusion, the risk of worsening HA in adolescence is more probable if the HA is associated with NP interfering with daily activities.     

Should aminophylline be abandoned in the treatment of acute asthma in adults?

Intravenous aminophylline is widely used for the treatment of acute asthma and anecdotes about its apparent effectiveness abound. Early studies demonstrated that aminophylline is an inefficient bronchodilator compared with adrenergic agonists given by injection or inhalation. This paper presents the results of a review of randomized controlled trials examining the effect of adding aminophylline to standard modern therapy with a nebulized beta(2) agonist and systemic corticosteroids in acute asthma in adults. Six of the seven trials, comprising 343 patients, failed to demonstrate any beneficial effect of aminophylline. Furthermore, minor toxicity was common. There is presently no evidence to support the use of aminophylline in addition to standard therapy for acute asthma in adults.     

Which patient should be resuscitated first?

The core principles of deontology are justice and beneficence. The principle of justice and egalitarianism guide health care professionals to treat every client with fairness and equity regardless the prognosis of illness, social and economic status of clients, the social and financial consequences impose on others. Whereas, the principle of beneficence and utilitarianism direct health care professionals to make an ethical decision to provide the maximum benefit and to minimise harm to the greatest number of people involved. When distributing limited health care resources, there could be conflicts between the principle of justice and beneficence or between egalitarians and utilitarians. At times health care professionals have to make a painful decision which only complies with certain ethical principles, but does not adhere to others.     

Guidelines for the management of headache in primary care: are they being used?

The uptake of guidelines for the management of headache in primary care was assessed using surrogate measures in patients with headache referred to secondary care (number of prior general practitioner attendances and medications prescribed). The results suggest that headache guidelines are seldom, if ever, applied in this geographical location.