IHC 2021 | Possible pathophysiological mechanisms of COVID-19 headache

Edoardo Caronna, MD, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, discusses a study investigating the presence of headache, a bothersome and disabling neurological symptom, in COVID-19 patients. Results showed that around 75% of COVID-19 patients had headache and anosmia/ageusia was more frequent in patients with headache. Interestingly, the COVID-19 disease duration was one week shorter in the headache group, suggesting that patients with headaches had a better prognosis. Prompted by these results, the investigators hypothesized some of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying COVID-19 headache considering three different aspects: immunological mechanisms, inflammation in particular interleukin 6 (IL-6) and CGRP, as well as the relationship between the virus and the nervous system. This interview took place during the International Headache Congress 2021.