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. 2009 Sep 25;10(6):465–467. doi: 10.1007/s10194-009-0160-0

Efficacy of oxygen inhalation in sumatriptan refractory “high altitude” cluster headache attacks

Edoardo Mampreso 1,✉, Ferdinando Maggioni 1, Federica Viaro 1, Caterina Disco 1, Giorgio Zanchin 1
PMCID: PMC3476216  PMID: 19779957

Abstract

We describe the case of a 40-year-old woman, affected by episodic cluster headache, who presented with a cluster headache triggered by exposure to high altitude. Her attacks were refractory to sumatriptan, very effective at sea level, but responded to oxygen. A pathophysiological mechanism is proposed.

Keywords: Cluster headache, Attacks therapy, Oxygen, Sumatriptan, Refractory attacks

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Acknowledgments

Conflict of interest

None.

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