June 8-9, 2000
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Presented by NINDS, in cooperation with the American Academy of Neurology, American Headache Society, and National Headache
Foundation. Jointly sponsored by Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and SynerMed Communications.
To convey the most recent findings on migraine, NINDS hosted a conference on June 8-9, 2000, in Bethesda, Maryland. Migraine
is one of the most common, and most painful of the chronic pain disorders. Its impact extends beyond the personal burden of
those who suffer from migraine attacks, and impacts the national economy through an increased use of medical resources and
decreased work productivity. A panel of experts discussed what is currently known about the causes of migraine, its unusual
neurobiological mechanisms, and its treatment and prevention. The clinical characteristics and treatment of cluster headache
were also presented. Discussion topics of the workshop included:
- Epidemiology of Migraine -- impact of migraine headaches; barriers to effective migraine management; migraine comorbidity;
special populations
- Pathogenesis/Mechanisms of Migraine -- clinical phases; the vasogenic theory versus the neurogenic theory; pathophysiologic
phases; genetics; abnormalities in the P/Q-type calcium channel; directions for future study
- Diagnosis of Migraine -- IHS classification of headache disorders; diagnostic criteria; issues in clinical diagnosis; future
directions of clinical diagnostic criteria; diagnostic testing
- Treatment of Migraine -- treatment approaches; guidelines for acute treatment; guidelines for preventive treatment; behavioral
and physical therapies; chronic migraine
- Cluster headache -- clinical characteristics; pathophysiology; treatment
A synopsis of the workshop has been published in
Clinical Courier, Vol. 19, No. 8, September 2001, a publication of Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and SynerMed Communications.
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