Hemicrania continua: Towards a new classification?

Abstract

Hemicrania continua (HC) was described and coined in 1984 by Sjaastad and Spierings. Later cases, carrying this appellation, should conform to the original description. The proposed classification criteria (ICHD 3rd edition beta version) for HC focus e.g. on localized, autonomic and "vascular" features. Such features do, however, not belong to the core symptomatology of HC and should accordingly be removed. The genuine, original HC will then re-appear. The headache that the new criteria refer to, has in an unfair and unjustified manner been given the designation HC. A revision of the proposed criteria seems mandatory. © 2014 Antonaci and Sjaastad; licensee Springer.