Indomethacin-Responsive Headaches in Children and Adolescents: A Pearls and Pitfalls Case Series

Abstract

Background

Hemicrania continua and paroxysmal hemicrania are rare in the pediatric population. Recognizing these disorders characterized by unilateral headaches with autonomic features can reduce time to diagnosis, facilitate effective medical treatment, and reduce morbidity.

Objective

To review the diagnostic criteria and pathophysiology of hemicrania continua and paroxysmal hemicrania, analyze a retrospective cohort of adolescent patients with indomethacin-responsive headaches, and discuss the clinical features of these patients, both in how they follow the diagnostic criteria for these disorders and how they may deviate. We also examined time to diagnosis and prognosis for this cohort.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was completed of patients 12-18 years old from 2014 to 2021 diagnosed with indomethacin-responsive headaches who presented to a tertiary pediatric headache clinic. Clinical headache characteristics, demographic features, medical diagnoses, and diagnostic testing were reviewed and collated.

Results

Eight patients (7 female, 1 male) had indomethacin-responsive headaches. Six patients were diagnosed with hemicrania continua and 2 were diagnosed with paroxysmal hemicrania. The most common autonomic symptoms were unilateral nasal congestion and conjunctival injection/lacrimation. The median time to diagnosis was 15 months, and the median treatment length was 7 months.

Conclusion

Patients can have multiple headache phenotypes. Clinicians should ask headache patients of all ages about autonomic symptoms and unilateral headaches, specifically in fixed unilateral headaches. These headaches should be evaluated with imaging to rule out secondary intracranial causes. In those cases, with these features, an indomethacin trial is part of the diagnosis and should be considered early in the course.