Introduction:

A better understanding of etiology might improve poor outcomes of trochlear headaches (TRHs).

Aims:

To study clinical spectrum, etiology, and therapeutic response of TRH.

Methods:

Fifty-three TRH patients seen in a single center between 2015 and 2020 were included, excluding Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia (TAC).

Results:

Mean age was 36.45 years (range 11–85 years), with 77.35% being females. Twenty-five patients had continuous trochlear headache (CTRH) and 28 episodic trochlear headache (ETRH). Tension-type headache (TTH) occurred in 9 ETRH patients and 24 of 25 CTRH patients, and migraine-like headaches occurred in 19 ETRH patients and 8 CTRH (trochlear migraine) patients. Prior history of headaches was noted in 22 of 28 ETRH and 11 of 25 CTRH patients. Twenty-eight responded to migraine/TTH prophylaxis, 25 being nonresponders (partial/no response). Fourteen of 25 nonresponders, 4 of 28 responders (4 of 4 secondary and 5 of 9 idiopathic trochleitis (IT), 3 of 9 primary TRH (PTRH), and 6 of 28 ETRH) had autoantibodies, that is, 11 antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and 7 antithyroid antibodies. Ten of 14 (71.42%) antibody-positive nonresponders improved with immunosuppressants including steroids/hydroxychloroquine and only 11 required local injections. Finally, 38 patients had good response, 13 partial, and 2 no response. The etiology and refractoriness of IT can be attributed to underlying autoimmunity and a minor contribution by primary headaches, vice versa being the case for PTRH and ETRH. Refractory TRHs should be evaluated for underlying autoimmunity and primary headaches.

Conclusion:

Identification and treatment of underlying autoimmunity and primary headaches can help improve outcome of TRH.

Search results

Failure to identify underlying autoimmunity and primary headache disorder might be the reasons for refractoriness of trochlear headaches