EFFECTS OF INCREASING THE INTRACRANIAL BLOOD-VOLUME IN CLUSTER HEADACHE PATIENTS AND CONTROLS

Eleven patients with episodic duster headache in period, five patients out of period and six controls were studied concerning the effects of an increase of the intracranial blood volume by tilting. Common carot id artery (CCA) blood Row was similar in all three groups at baseline and during tilting. CCA diameters were similar at baseline and increas ed during tilting in all three groups, indicating that tilting caused an increase in the extra- and intracranial blood volume. Unilateral pa in or sympathetic dysfunction did not appear during tilting in the pat ients out of period or in the controls. In four of eight studied patie nts with cluster headache in period, unilateral miosis and ptosis appe ared during tilting. Two of these four patients developed intense unil ateral pain, while the other two did not report any pain. Four other p atients developed slight unilateral pain but no sympathetic dysfunctio n during tilting.