Dialysis headache: prevalence and clinical presentation in hemodialysis and kidney transplant patients

Authors

  • Bruno Teixeira Gomes Renal Transplant Research Laboratory, Division of Nephrology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1547-8125
  • Alberto Luis Gomes da Costa Division of Neurology, Clinics Hospital, University of Campins, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • Marilda Mazzali University of Campinas https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6297-4909

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48208/HeadacheMed.2022.32

Keywords:

Anxiety, Dialysis headache, Sleepiness, Dialysis, Transplantation

Abstract

Introduction

Headache is a common symptom among hemodialysis patients, with a prevalence around 70%. Dialysis headache is defined according to International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) as a headache without specific characteristics, occurring during and caused by hemodialysis that spontaneously disappears within 72 hours after the dialysis session. There is no consensus on trigger factors or physiopathology.

Objective

To evaluate prevalence, clinical characteristics, and associated factors with dialysis headache.

Methods

Observational study with quantitative analysis. Study patients were divided into two groups: (HD) 25 hemodialysis patients and (Tx) 25 early post kidney transplant patients. A structured questionnaire was applied to all patients, including Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Laboratory data, blood pressure and body weight were analyzed before and after one dialysis session. Results: In group HD, eight patients (32%) had diagnosis of dialysis headache, with pulsating headache (n=6, 75%), photophobia (n=6, 75%), phonophobia (n=4, 50%), and nauseas or vomiting (n=6, 75%), with a mean pain score of 7.75 ± 1.58. Headache group had higher scores of anxieties (7.00 ± 3.93 vs. 3.82 ± 3.23, p=0.03) and sleepiness (9.13 ± 3.94 vs. 4.76 ± 3.85, p=0.01), lower levels of serum calcium (p=0.01), and higher systolic (p=0.02) and diastolic (p=0.02) blood pressure pre dialysis. In group Tx, five patients (20%) reported dialysis headache, with pulsating headache (n=4, 80%), nauseas or vomiting (n=4, 80%), with a mean pain score of 8.0 ± 1.41. Headache group had a higher score of sleepiness (9.20 ± 4.32 vs. 4.80 ± 4.51, p=0.029) and were younger (38.93 ± 14.43 vs. 54.02 ± 8.31, p=0.03).

Conclusion

Headache is frequent among hemodialysis patients and had similar symptoms of migraine. In this series dialysis headache was associated with higher scores of anxieties and sleepiness, higher blood pressure and lower calcium pre dialysis.

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Published

2023-02-02

How to Cite

1.
Gomes BT, Costa ALG da, Mazzali M. Dialysis headache: prevalence and clinical presentation in hemodialysis and kidney transplant patients. Headache Med [Internet]. 2023 Feb. 2 [cited 2024 Nov. 23];13(4):265-70. Available from: https://headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/735

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2022)

Section

Original

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Copyright (c) 2022 Bruno Teixeira Gomes, Alberto Luis Gomes da Costa, Marilda Mazzali

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.