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Headache and Epilepsy

  • Secondary Headache (K Henry, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Headache and epilepsy often co-occur. Epidemiologic studies conducted in the past few years reinforce the notion of a bi-directional association between migraine and epilepsy. Data on an association between headache (in general) and epilepsy, however, are less clear. Peri-ictal headache often presents with migraine-like symptoms and can be severe. A correct diagnosis and management are paramount. It was demonstrated that cortical hyperexcitability may underlie both epilepsy and migraine. A recent study linked spreading depolarisation, the supposed underlying pathophysiological mechanism of migraine with aura, to epilepsy. Although this study was carried out in patients who had suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage, the finding may shed light on pathophysiological mechanisms common to epilepsy and migraine.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Christelijke Vereniging voor de Verpleging van Lijders aan Epilepsie (Nederland).

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Prisca R Bauer reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Dr. Johannes A. Carpay reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Dr. Gisela M Terwindt reported receiving a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (#VIDI 917-11-319).

Dr. Josemir W Sander reported serving as a board member for GSK, UCB, and Viropharma. Dr. Sander received consultancies from UCB Pharma and GSK. Dr. Sander has receiving grants/grants pending from Eisai, UCB Pharma, and WHO. Dr. Sander has receiving payment for serving on speakers’ bureaus from UCB and GSK and travel/accommodations reimbursed or covered by Janssen Cilag and UCB. Dr. Sander’s current position is endowed by the Epilepsy Society and he serves as an Editorial Board member of the Lancet Neurology.

Dr. Roland J. Thijs reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Dr. Joost Haan reported serving as a board member for Merck Holland (stopped 1-1-2013).

Dr. Gerhard H Visser reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SEIN Epilepsy Institute in the Netherlands Foundation, Heemstede, The Netherlands, P.O. Box 540, 2130 AM, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

    P. R. Bauer, J. W. Sander, R. J. Thijs & G. H. Visser

  2. Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. A. Carpay, G. M. Terwindt, R. J. Thijs & J. Haan

  3. NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK

    J. W. Sander

  4. Epilepsy Society, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 0RJ, UK

    J. W. Sander

  5. Department of Neurology, Rijnland Hospital Leiderdorp, Postbus 4220 2350 CC, Leiderdorp, The Netherlands

    J. Haan

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  1. P. R. Bauer
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  2. J. A. Carpay
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Correspondence to J. Haan.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Secondary Headache

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Bauer, P.R., Carpay, J.A., Terwindt, G.M. et al. Headache and Epilepsy. Curr Pain Headache Rep 17, 351 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-013-0351-x

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