Arieh Kuritzky

Sodium valproate in the prophylactic treatment of migraine: a double-blind study versus placebo.

The efficacy of sodium valproate (Depalept) versus placebo in the treatment of migraine was evaluated in a double-blind randomized cross-over study in twenty-nine patients. The patients were divided into two groups each of which was alternately given 400 mg of sodium valproate B.I.d or placebo for eight weeks and then crossed over for an additional eight weeks. Our results show that in 86.2% of the patients sodium valproate was effective in preventing migraine or reducing the frequency, severity and duration of the attacks. In general, the drug was well tolerated and proved to be an effective treatment in migraine.

Vertigo, Motion Sickness and Migraine

SYNOPSIS

Sodium Valproate in the Treatment of Cluster Headache: An Open Clinical Trial

The effect of prophylactic treatment with sodium valproate in cluster headache was investigated in an open pilot study. Fifteen cluster headache patients were studied of whom two suffered from chronic cluster headache and thirteen from the episodic type. The dose used was between 600 and 2000 mg per day in two divided doses. Eleven out of the fifteen patients (73.3%) reacted favorably to the treatment. Nine reported a complete disappearance of pain and two, a marked improvement. Sodium valproate appears to be an effective drug in the treatment of cluster headache. A double-blind controlled study is needed for further evaluation.

Evidence for Instability of the Autonomic Nervous System in Patients With Migraine Headache

SYNOPSIS

Cluster Headache-Like Pain Caused by an Upper Cervical Meningioma:

A 68-year-old man with chronic lung disease suffered from cluster headache (CH)-like pain associated with an upper cervical meningioma extending to compress the lower brain stem. The pain disappeared after tumour excision. We suggest that compression of the brain stem and hypoxemia associated with chronic lung disease might have caused the attacks. especially in the early morning when REM sleep hypoxia was prevalent. It is also suggested that in atypical resistant cases of CH-like pain where therapy fails. efforts should be made to rule

Indomethacin-resistant Hemicrania Continua

“Hemicrania Continua”, first described in 1984, is defined as a steady, non-paroxysmal, unilateral headache absolutely responsive to indomethacin. Four cases clinically compatible with “Hemicrania Continua” are described. All four cases were absolutely resistant to indomethacin treatment. It is concluded that “Hemicrania Continua” is a clinical entity which has an indomethacin-responsive subtype but is not strictly an indomethacin-responsive headache.

Cell-mediated immunity to human myelin basic protein in schizophrenic patients

Cell-mediated immune response to myelin human basic protein was studied by the macrophage migration inhibition test in patients suffering from schizophrenia. Eighteen out of 32 patients with chronic schizophrenia demonstrated human basic protein-induced inhibition of the migration index, while 4 out of 41 acute schizophrenics showed an inhibition of macrophage migration.

Cell‐mediated immunity to polio and HLA antigens in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Cell-mediated immunity to poliovirus was demonstrated in 21 of 33 patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), whereas no response to poliovirus was found in patients suffering from other neurologic disorders or in healthy controls. Three of the severe bulbar cases produced a migration inhibition factor (MIF) in the presence of poliovirus, although skin tests to common antigens were negative. An increased incidence (46 percent) of HLA-A3 was found in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nine of the 13 patients with HLA-A3 antigen also had a positive index of MIF to poliovirus. These findings suggest a strong linkage between HLA-A3 and poliovirus in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Dihydroergotamine nasal spray in the treatment of acute migraine

Objective.—To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dihydroergotamine (DHE) nasal spray in patients suffering from common or classical migraine.

Geomagnetic activity and the severity of the migraine attack.

SYNOPSIS