Deep brain stimulation of posterior hypothalamic area for cluster headache

• Main Authors: Antti Huotarinen, Mikko Kallela, Ville Artto, Aki Laakso, Riku Kivisaari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-04-01
• Series: Cephalalgia Reports
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2515816318771334

Background: Deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic area is one of the neuromodulation treatments used for chronic cluster headache, but the number of published patients remains low. Aim: The aim of this article was to present the retrospective results of 12 consecutive chronic cluster headache patients treated with deep brain stimulation at Helsinki University Hospital. Materials and Methods: All chronic cluster headache patients treated with deep brain stimulation between 2004 and 2012 were included in the study. Patients were interviewed and their hospital files analyzed. Treatment effect was classified as good, partial, or no effect. Results: Of the 12 patients, four had a good treatment effect, five had partial, and three had no effect of deep brain stimulation. In contrast to previous studies, our patients reported an almost immediate benefit after the onset of stimulation. Conclusions: Deep brain stimulation provides clinically meaningful benefit to a subgroup of chronic cluster headache patients.