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Brain Advance Access originally published online on August 25, 2004
Brain 2004 127(10):2259-2264; doi:10.1093/brain/awh245
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Brain Vol. 127 No. 10 © Guarantors of Brain 2004; all rights reserved

Long-term follow-up of bilateral hypothalamic stimulation for intractable cluster headache

M. Leone1, A. Franzini1, G. Broggi1, A. May2 and G. Bussone1

1 Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy and 2 Department of Neurology, Regensburg University, Regensburg, Germany

Correspondence to: Massimo Leone, MD, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano Italy E-mail: leone{at}istituto-besta.it

We provide a detailed case history of the first patient to receive bilateral hypothalamic stimulation to control severe bilateral chronic intractable cluster headaches initially occurring mostly on the left. These attacks were accompanied by life-threatening hypertensive crises and a grave deterioration in the patient's psychological state. Destructive surgery to the left trigeminal was absolutely contraindicated. Electrode implantation and continuous stimulation of the left posterior inferior hypothalamus resolved the left attacks. After four destructive operations on the right trigeminal, right side attacks recurred. Electrode implantation (with continuous stimulation) to the right resulted in immediate resolution of the right side pain and the hypertensive crises. On several occasions, both known and unknown to the patient, the stimulators were turned off: in all cases, crises reappeared and in all instances disappeared relatively quickly after turning stimulation back on. Pain crises have never reappeared when ipsilateral stimulation is ongoing. The only side effects were observed during long-term bilateral stimulation, consisting of transient vertigo and bradycardia. After 42 months (left) and 31 months (right) of follow-up, the patient remains crisis free without the need for pharmacological prophylaxis.


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