NOCTURNAL CLUSTER HEADACHE ASSOCIATED WITH SLEEP-APNEA - A CASE-REPORT

We describe a 49-year-old man with chronic cluster headache unresponsi ve to all medications. Following investigation in the sleep lab he was found to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with associated oxygen de saturations during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. He awakened during one of these episodes with a typical headache. Treatment with nasal CP AP abolished his OSA and desaturations, and largely abolished his head aches. He then developed central apneas during REM sleep. Further trea tment with BiPAP(TM), with a set backup rate, abolished both the apnea s and the headaches. We conclude that there may be a link between noct urnal cluster headaches and sleep apnea.