Hypnic Headache and Basilar Artery Dolichoectasia

Neurologist. 2015 Dec;20(6):106-7. doi: 10.1097/NRL.0000000000000063.

Abstract

Background: Hypnic headache is regarded by most authors as a primary headache, but in some cases it was considered secondary to hypophysis, brain stem, or posterior fossa lesions.

Case: We report a case of a 69-year-old woman with a history of a headache that fulfils all International Classification of Headache Disorders-II criteria for hypnic headache, with 2 years of evolution, whose complementary investigation with magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance angiography revealed a dolichoectasia of the basilary artery. She was treated with verapamil with excellent response.

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first described case of a patient with hypnic headache and a dolichoectasic basilar artery. The relation between these 2 entities is questionable, but we raise some possible explanations for this relationship.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Headache Disorders, Primary / etiology
  • Headache Disorders, Primary / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Polysomnography
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / complications
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / pathology*