Short-Lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache Attacks with Conjunctival Injection and Tearing (SUNCT) Status Like Condition: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature.

1. INTRODUCTION

The International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition (ICHD-3) guidelines have defined “trigeminal autonomic cephalgias” (TAC) as a group of primary headache disorders characterized by brief episodes of severe unilateral headache in the distribution territory of the trigeminal nerve, accompanied by ipsilateral cranial parasympathetic autonomic features [1, 2]. TACs include cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, short-lasting neuralgiform headache attacks, and hemicrania continua [1-4]. These conditions are distinguished by their attack duration and frequency, as well as response to treatment. The short-lasting neuralgiform unilateral headache attacks are of two subtypes: SUNCT (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing) and the SUNA (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms) [1, 2]. In SUNCT, conjunctival injection and tearing both are mandatory autonomic symptoms, while in SUNA, either conjunctival injection or tearing or any one of the cephalgic autonomic features is present [1-4].

SUNCT is characterized by a stab or series of stabs, of moderate to severe intensity, located at the orbital, periorbital, or temporal region with one or more attacks per day lasting 1-600 seconds with at least 20 documented episodes [1-4]. Functional imaging studies of the brain have suggested SUNCT as a result of trigeminal parasympathetic neural track activation due to a variety of causes like demyelination or inflammation [5]. It is commonly seen in the age group of 35 to 65 years with a mean age of 48 years [6, 7]. This term “SUNCT status like condition”(SSLC) is not defined exactly, but most of the authors have agreed to the SUNCT presentation with a frequency of more than 30 per hour or continuous stabs of saw tooth pattern with minimum or no pain-free interval in between the attacks better half a day or sudden increase in the frequency of attacks requiring hospitalization or interfering with activities of daily livings [6, 7]. Anticonvulsant drugs, such as lamotrigine and Carbamazepine (CBZ) are effective for the treatment of SUNCT [6, 7]. However, the SSLC is resistant to these oral therapies and parenteral lignocaine or high dose methylprednisolone (MP) that are the mainstay of the treatment. Differentiation of SSLC from the SUNCT and trigeminal neuralgia is challenging due to many overlapping features [6, 7].

We report a unique case of a young male, who was presented with SSLC. We have also reviewed the previously reported cases and our case of SSLC in this review article.

2. CASE REPORT

A 28-year old male presented with a 3 days history of left forehead stabbing pain. The pain was excruciating (visual analog score (VAS) 9/10), electric current like with a series of stabs lasting 30 seconds with a frequency of about 40-45 per hour. He had mild to moderate background pain in between severe episodes of saw tooth pattern stabs for the last three days. The pain was exacerbated on touching and combing hairs. This was associated with left eye redness with discharge and mild left ptosis. He had a history of infective gastroenteritis before 4 days and was treated with intravenous fluids, ceftriaxone, and ondansetron for 24 hours. He was not tolerating orally and had not consumed CBZ for the last three days.

On presentation, he was mildly dehydrated and had orthostatic hypotension with tachycardia. His cardiorespiratory evaluation unrevealed any abnormality, and the abdomen was soft with normal peristalsis. Neurological examination was unrevealing except that he had left eye conjunctival injection associated with tearing and mild ptosis. Six months before also he had similar episodes of excruciating pain (VAS:9/10) over his left forehead lasting 20-30 seconds, about 6-8 episodes per day with left eye redness, tearing, and mild ptosis. These episodes, which lasted for two weeks, were effectively treated with CBZ and a short course of oral steroids. His MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain with contrast and angiography on both the occasions (6 months back and now) were unremarkable. His hemogram, renal function tests, liver function tests, blood sugar, and serum electrolytes were normal except low serum potassium level of 3.1mEq/L (Normal range: 3.6- 5.5 mEq/L).

He was treated with intravenous (IV) normal saline and potassium chloride infusion for correction of dehydration and hypokalemia. Simultaneously, IV methylprednisolone 1gm diluted in 250 ml normal saline was given daily for 3 days. This was followed by a gradually tapering dose of oral prednisolone starting with 1mg/kg/day. The CBZ was gradually increased from 400 mg to 1600 mg daily over the next 4 days. There was a great reduction in the frequency and severity of symptoms in 3 days. He was also treated with indomethacin 150 mg daily for 3 days. Since the patient was unable to tolerate this drug and therefore, he discontinued as no benefits were shown. He ultimately became symptom-free with CBZ and steroids after one week.

3. DISCUSSION

The main differential diagnosis of unilateral severe electric current like or stabbing pain over the forehead is “trigeminal neuralgia in V1 (ophthalmic division) distribution”, “SUNCT” and “SSLC” (Table 1) [1, 2]. Our patient had a history of unilateral frontal stabs lasting for 30 seconds, associated with prominent conjunctival injection and tearing, without a refractory period and normal MRI brain 6 months back. This supports the diagnosis of primary episodic SUNCT as per the ICHD-3 guidelines [1, 2]. He now presented with unilateral short-lasting (30 seconds duration), recurrent episodes (40-45 per hour) of excruciating stabbing pain over his left forehead of 3 days. This was associated with conjunctival injection, lacrimation, and mild ptosis. He had background pain in between the episodes which were exacerbated by touching and combing hairs with no refractory period. All these findings favored the diagnosis of SSLC [1, 2]. His repeat MRI brain was unremarkable favoring idiopathic SSLC. We treated our patient with IV-Methylprednisolone 1gm infusion daily for three days followed by oral prednisolone 1mg/kg daily along with the rapid escalation of oral CBZ up to 1600 mg in the next four days. The patient significantly improved in three days and became asymptomatic after 7 days. Since the headache subtype is of ultra-short duration, rapid-acting parenteral drugs having neuro-analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties are effective bridge therapy for escalating the dose of existing preventive drugs to the maximum recommended level [7, 9].

4. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

SUNCT is a highly disabling condition affecting activities of daily living [8, 9]. The exact pathophysiology of SUNCT is not known. However, previous studies suggested focal demyelination of the trigeminal tract as a peripheral mechanism and inflammation of the posterior hypothalamus as a central mechanism for SUNA/SUNCT [9-11]. If more than one cephalgic autonomic features are present as in SUNCT central neurological contribution is more responsible as compared to the peripheral mechanism, while in cases of a single autonomic feature as in SUNA peripheral neural contribution is significant [3, 5, 12, 13].

Previous studies have demonstrated analgesic, antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of systemic lignocaine therapy [14-16]. Animal model studies have demonstrated the efficacy of systemic lignocaine by preventing depolarization of the nerve cell membrane, especially of inflamed and dysfunctional nerves by blocking active sodium channels [14-21]. The recommended dose of IV lignocaine is 2mg/kg as an initial bolus followed by continuous infusion of 1-3 mg/kg/hour for 3 to 7 days. The drug has a narrow therapeutic window with a therapeutic plasma level 2.5-3.5 ug/ml. With plasma level of >5.0 ug/ml, central nervous side effects like sedation, lightheadedness, ataxia, visual disturbances, muscles twitching and finally coma occur, while at the plasma level >10 ug/ml, the cardiac side effects like sinus arrest, various atrioventricular blocks, tachyarrhythmias, and transient hypertension followed by hypotension are observed [14-21]. Hence the patient requires intensive care unit admission for IV lignocaine administration for cardiac monitoring.

High dose IV MP (500-1000 mg) daily for 3-5 days has potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions and it is used extensively in many neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis acute spinal cord compression and cluster headaches unresponsive to conventional therapy [22-25]. It acts by modifications of cell activation, cytokine expression, reduction of inflammatory mediators, and T-cell apoptosis in the nervous system [26-28]. Most frequently reported adverse effects of short-course high dose steroids are hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, change in taste, facial flushing, generalized edema, skin rashes, abdominal pain, severe arthralgia, myalgia, insomnia, anorexia and psychological side effects like agitation and behavioral changes [29-32]. High dose MP injection should be given by slow IV infusion to prevent life-threatening hypokalemia [32, 33].

To the best of our knowledge, seven cases of SUNCT status like conditions have been reported to date and ours is the eighth case. Out of 8 cases, six were females and two were males (F: M= 3:1) with a mean age of 40.87 years. As per the literature, both lidocaine and/or high dose Methylprednisolone (MP) IV infusions along with the rapid escalation of preventive drugs are effective pharmacological options for the treatment of SSLC [3-5, 9]. In the literature search, three patients were treated with high dose steroids and three responded to parenteral lignocaine apart from rapid escalation or change of anticonvulsant drugs. In one pregnant patient, SSLC did not respond to opioid or NSAID analgesics, anticonvulsants or lignocaine, and subsided only after termination of the pregnancy. Only a single patient responded to high dose lamotrigine and supportive treatment. Since status like condition is more common in females and one case responded to termination of the pregnancy, it seems like hormonal factors are contributing to precipitation of SUNCT status in females. However, this postulation requires further large-scale studies to find exact pathophysiology and female preponderance. One case was secondary to multiple sclerosis, while the rest of seven were primary episodic SUNCT, who presented with “status like condition”.

Bogorad et al. reported a case of a 61-year-old female, who presented with SSLC secondary to multiple sclerosis with demyelinating lesions of left trigeminal nucleus and tract [34]. She presented with a stabbing headache for a few seconds with a frequency of 30 episodes/hour for 48 hours. She responded to augmented doses of CBZ and steroids along with indomethacin. Montes et al reported 2 young female cases of SSLC [7]. The first case was a 26-year female, who presented with a stabbing headache with a frequency of 15-60 per hour and was resistant to indomethacin, ergots, and CBZ. She responded with MP 1gm IV infusion daily for 3 days followed by oral steroids along with an up titrated dose of CBZ to 1200 mg per day and was asymptomatic for more than a year [7]. The second patient, a 23-year female had 3-4 SUNCT attacks during the ovulation time. She presented with SSLC at the 8th week of gestation and was resistant to all the medication tried and the pain subsided only after termination of pregnancy [7]. Williams et al. reported 2 patients of SSLC [8]. The first case was a 22-year female with a 5-year history of SUNCT headache, who presented with frequent (25-35 per hour) stabs of 120 seconds for the last 3 days. She responded to an escalation of lamotrigine to 400 mg daily [8]. The second case was a 47-year female with SUNCT of 28-year duration who presented with a headache frequency of 100-300/day and each episode lasting 5-10 seconds. She was treated with lignocaine 2mg/min subcutaneously for 3 days along with lamotrigine 50mg daily as preventive therapy [8]. Matharu et al reported two cases of SSLC [35]. The first case was a 60-year female with frequent (5-30/hour) electric shock-like pain over the right forehead of 10-30 seconds throughout the day. She was treated with lignocaine IV 1mg/min for 7 days along with topiramate 150mg and CBZ 400mg daily as preventive drugs with complete recovery [35]. The second case was a 60-year male, who presented with the rapid escalation of SUNCT attacks about 200-300 per day lasting for 5-60 seconds over left retro-orbital and orbital regions. He was unable to eat or talk during the pain attacks. He responded to lignocaine IV 2mg/min and topiramate 50mg daily as a preventive medicine [35]. Previously reported cases were due to missed doses of preventive anticonvulsant drugs or unknown reasons, while in our case apart from the missed doses of preventive drugs, dehydration and hypokalemia were possible triggers. Parenteral lignocaine or high dose MP is the mainstay treatment of SSLC but both the drugs are likely to precipitate life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias in the presence of hypokalemia. We have decided to use IV MP and it was challenging to correct serum potassium level and to simultaneously infuse MP injection.

CONCLUSION

SUNCT, a rare type of trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia, can occasionally present with a high frequency of stab attacks defined as “SUNCTstatus like condition”. Timely diagnosis and treatment with high dose steroids or systemic lignocaine along with the rapid escalation of preventive drugs can provide long-lasting relief.

REFERENCES