Contact probe for corneal temperature measurements

SUNCT syndrome: The materialization of a headache syndrome

Shortlasting, unilateral, neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome is a rare headache, described by our group in 1989. This overview presents our early studies of SUNCT pathogenesis. Due to the conspicuous ictal, ocular phenomena, ie, conjunctival injection and tearing, our studies started out with ocular parameters: intraocular pressure and corneal indentation pulse amplitudes, both of which showed clear ictal increments, symptomatic side. Beat-to-beat, noninvasive blood pressure measurements during attack showed instant, systolic blood pressure rise and corresponding pulse rate decrease. Carotid body, the principal peripheral chemoreceptor, seemed to function normally. The middle cerebral artery was dilated during attacks, particularly on the symptomatic side. Finally, some viewpoints are added regarding terminology. SUNCT is a workable and accepted term. There does not seem to be any need for another, fictitious term to describe the same clinical picture.

Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania: from the index patient to the disease

The first patient with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH), a 41-year-old woman, first seen in 1961, was followed until an adequate treatment was found, 12 years later. Clinically, attack frequency and duration differed widely from the general pattern of cluster headache. Ocular variables, such as intraocular pressure and corneal indentation pulse amplitudes, also differed in our case (clear symptomatic side increment during attacks) and cluster headache. Pupil reactions to directly and indirectly acting sympathicomimetic drugs were also vastly different in our case and cluster headache: no signs of Horner s syndrome in our patient, while cluster headache exhibits a "Horner-like pattern." In cluster headache, there is a relative hypohidrosis in the forehead on the symptomatic side if body temperature is increased, and a clear hyperhidrosis on direct parasympathomimetic stimulation. This was not so in our case. Indomethacin was highly effective in our case, while "cluster headache drugs," such as ergotamine/sumatriptan, were ineffective. Indomethacin was inactive in cluster headache. Accordingly, our case seemed to differ decisively from cluster headache: CPH had been discovered.

Cluster headache syndrome and migrain. Ophthalmological support for a two-entity theory

Patients suffering from migraine, cluster headache and atypical cluster headache, including patients with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, were studied with respect to corneal temperature, intraocular pressure and corneal indentation pulse amplitude changes during pain attacks. Significant rises in these three parameters were deomonstrated during attacks of cluster headache and atypical cluster headache, indicating that intraocular vasodilation with increased ocular blood flow occurs during attacks. No definite changes were found in migraine. The results strongly suggest that significant pathophysiological differences exist between migraine and cluster headache. The point is stressed that these disorders probably represent separate pathogenetic entities and should be classified as such, and not be grouped together within an ill-defined group of "vascular headache".

Corneal temperature in normal subjects and arterial occlusive disease

A direct, thermo-electrical method of corneal temperature recording is presented. The corneal temperature averaged 33.7 degrees C in normal subjects, with no side difference and no difference between the sexes. The various parameters which may influence the corneal temperature are discussed. The technique was applied to groups of patients suffering from either polymyalgia rheumatica, central retinal artery embolism or temporal arteritis. In the latter group of patients a marked drop in corneal temperature was demonstrated in the affected, or most affected, eye. Corneal temperature measurements are therefore presented as an easy and effective diagnostic approach in temporal arteritis.