IHC 2021 | Investigating cranial autonomic symptoms in headache

Nazia Karsan, MRCP, PhD, King’s College London, London, UK, gives updates on a study into voice change and throat swelling as cranial autonomic symptoms in headache. The study’s objective was to look at the frequency of reporting of voice change and throat swelling and analyze if there was a difference in headache types and if it correlated with the site of pain. Results showed that 56 patients reported voice changes and/or throat swelling as possible cranial autonomic symptoms across the clinics, which included diagnoses of all primary headache disorders, with chronic migraine being the most common. Seven patients reported both voice changes and throat swelling. Dr Karsan proposed an association with ear fullness, suggesting the possible relation to trigeminal distribution and having a somatotopic endophenotype. This interview took place during the International Headache Congress 2021.