Chronic cluster headache
remains refractory to medical therapy
in at least 30% of those who suffer
from this condition. The lack of
alternative medical therapies that
are as effective as, or more effective
than, lithium carbonate makes
new therapies necessary for this
highly disabling condition. Based
on a previous report, we gave oral
anticoagulants to three patients with
chronic cluster headache. Two of
them remained cluster headachefree
while taking warfarin. In the
third patient, the use of warfarin for
three weeks initially increased the
frequency and intensity of cluster
headache attacks but subsequently
induced a prolonged remission. In
spite of the paucity of data available,
oral anticoagulation appears to
be a promising therapy for chronic
cluster headache.
Key words Cluster headache - Chronic cluster headache - Cluster
headache therapy - Oral anticoagulants - Warfarin