Cardiac cephalalgia

Abstract

Cardiac cephalalgia has a small incidence, but unrecognized it can prolong the time to diagnose a life-threatening condition such as acute coronary event. According to its clinical presentation, it can refer to a migraine. Even in the absence of clinically and laboratory evident signs, the diagnosis of cardiac migraine should be kept in mind because sometimes it is the only symptom of a threatening coronary event. The choice of treatment depends on a correctly established diagnosis. A reckless inclusion of vasoconstrictors as a standard therapeutic modality of migraine in a patient with a cardiac cephalalgia could worsen ischemia and endanger the patient's life. By solving an acute coronary event conservatively, with percutaneous coronary interventions or coronary "bypass," cardiac cephalalgia is eliminated as well.