Neurológia pre prax 4/2020

Migraine and multiple sclerosis – symptom or comorbidity

The increased incidence of headache in MS patients compared to a healthy population is generally known. Prevalence in individual studies, in their meta-analyses and in individual published MS patient populations has a large dispersion of 4–64 %. It turns out that there is an increased incidence of headache in the early stage of MS and during relapse and are likely equivalent to an inflammatory reaction on meninges in MS patients. In this sense, headaches, migraine or a tension type of headache (TTH) can be understood as a symptom of MS. Several drugs used in the treatment of MS can cause headaches or decompensate migraine, worsen quality of life and drug adherence. In the case of classification of primary headache as comorbidity of MS, specific treatment should be initiated.

Keywords: headaches, multiple sclerosis, migraine, tension type headache, comorbidity