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Neurology 2000;56:130-132
© 2000 American Academy of Neurology
Brief Communications

Lateralizing value of peri-ictal headache: A study of 100 patients with partial epilepsy

A. Bernasconi, MD;, F. Andermann, MD, FRCP(C);, N. Bernasconi, MD;, D.C. Reutens, MD, FRACP; and F. Dubeau, MD FRCP(C)

From the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, and Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Quebec, Canada.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Frederick Andermann, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, 3801 University Street, Montreal H3A 2B4, Quebec, Canada.

To determine the lateralizing value of peri-ictal headache, the authors conducted a standardized interview of 100 patients with partial epilepsy, 60 with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and 40 with extratemporal epilepsy (ETE). Peri-ictal headache occurred in 47 of 100 (47%) patients. Peri-ictal headache was more likely to be ipsilateral to the seizure onset in TLE (27 of 30 = 90%) than in ETE (two of 17 = 12%; p< 0.001). For both groups, peri-ictal headache usually conformed to the diagnostic criteria for common migraine (18 of 30 = 60% in TLE; 7 of 17 = 41% in ETE).