TY - JOUR
T1 - Therapeutic lumbar puncture for headache in idiopathic intracranial hypertension
T2 - Minimal gain, is it worth the pain?
AU - Yiangou, Andreas
AU - Mitchell, James
AU - Markey, Keira Annie
AU - Scotton, William
AU - Nightingale, Peter
AU - Botfield, Hannah
AU - Ottridge, Ryan
AU - Mollan, Susan P
AU - Sinclair, Alexandra J
PY - 2018/6/17
Y1 - 2018/6/17
N2 - Background Headache is disabling and prevalent in idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Therapeutic lumbar punctures may be considered to manage headache. This study evaluated the acute effect of lumbar punctures on headache severity. Additionally, the effect of lumbar puncture pressure on post-lumbar puncture headache was evaluated. Methods Active idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients were prospectively recruited to a cohort study, lumbar puncture pressure and papilloedema grade were noted. Headache severity was recorded using a numeric rating scale (NRS) 0-10, pre-lumbar puncture and following lumbar puncture at 1, 4 and 6 hours and daily for 7 days. Results Fifty two patients were recruited (mean lumbar puncture opening pressure 32 (28-37 cmCSF). At any point in the week post-lumbar puncture, headache severity improved in 71% (but a small reduction of -1.1 ± 2.6 numeric rating scale) and exacerbated in 64%, with 30% experiencing a severe exacerbation ≥ 4 numeric rating scale. Therapeutic lumbar punctures are typically considered in idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients with severe headaches (numeric rating scale ≥ 7). In this cohort, the likelihood of improvement was 92% (a modest reduction of headache pain by -3.0 ± 2.8 numeric rating scale, p = 0.012, day 7), while 33% deteriorated. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients with mild (numeric rating scale 1-3) or no headache (on the day of lumbar puncture, prior to lumbar puncture) had a high risk of post- lumbar puncture headache exacerbation (81% and 67% respectively). Importantly, there was no relationship between lumbar puncture opening pressure and headache response after lumbar puncture. Conclusion Following lumbar puncture, the majority of idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients experience some improvement, but the benefit is small and post-lumbar puncture headache exacerbation is common, and in some prolonged and severe. Lumbar puncture pressure does not influence the post-lumbar puncture headache.
AB - Background Headache is disabling and prevalent in idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Therapeutic lumbar punctures may be considered to manage headache. This study evaluated the acute effect of lumbar punctures on headache severity. Additionally, the effect of lumbar puncture pressure on post-lumbar puncture headache was evaluated. Methods Active idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients were prospectively recruited to a cohort study, lumbar puncture pressure and papilloedema grade were noted. Headache severity was recorded using a numeric rating scale (NRS) 0-10, pre-lumbar puncture and following lumbar puncture at 1, 4 and 6 hours and daily for 7 days. Results Fifty two patients were recruited (mean lumbar puncture opening pressure 32 (28-37 cmCSF). At any point in the week post-lumbar puncture, headache severity improved in 71% (but a small reduction of -1.1 ± 2.6 numeric rating scale) and exacerbated in 64%, with 30% experiencing a severe exacerbation ≥ 4 numeric rating scale. Therapeutic lumbar punctures are typically considered in idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients with severe headaches (numeric rating scale ≥ 7). In this cohort, the likelihood of improvement was 92% (a modest reduction of headache pain by -3.0 ± 2.8 numeric rating scale, p = 0.012, day 7), while 33% deteriorated. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients with mild (numeric rating scale 1-3) or no headache (on the day of lumbar puncture, prior to lumbar puncture) had a high risk of post- lumbar puncture headache exacerbation (81% and 67% respectively). Importantly, there was no relationship between lumbar puncture opening pressure and headache response after lumbar puncture. Conclusion Following lumbar puncture, the majority of idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients experience some improvement, but the benefit is small and post-lumbar puncture headache exacerbation is common, and in some prolonged and severe. Lumbar puncture pressure does not influence the post-lumbar puncture headache.
KW - Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
KW - Headache
KW - Lumbar puncture
KW - Post lumbar puncture headache
U2 - 10.1177/0333102418782192
DO - 10.1177/0333102418782192
M3 - Article
C2 - 29911422
SN - 0333-1024
JO - Cephalalgia
JF - Cephalalgia
ER -