QUANTITATIVE-EVALUATION OF PHOTOPHOBIA AND PHONOPHOBIA IN CLUSTER HEADACHE

In order to evaluate photophobia and phonophobia in cluster headache ( CH), light and sound-induced discomfort and pain thresholds were measu red quantitatively in 50 patients and 50 sex-matched and age-matched h eadache-free controls. During bout (i.e., during the active period wit h attacks), CH patients were more sensitive to light and sound than co ntrols (p<0.001). Outside bout they did not differ significantly from controls except for binaural stimulation. Patients were more photophob ic and phonophobic during bout than in the remission period (p less th an or equal to 0.05). However, for those tested during bout, the sensi tivity to light and sound was not related to the presence of pain duri ng test, usual pain intensity, or pain laterality. In response to a qu estionnaire about their sensitivity, a significantly higher proportion of patients considered themselves sensitive during bout than outside (91% vs 46% for light [chi(2)=5.9, p<0.05] and 89% vs 49% for sound [c hi(2)=4.7, p<0.05]). These results indicate that photophobia and phono phobia are important accompanying phenomena of cluster bouts.