Prospective study of sentinel headache in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 344; no. 8922; pp. 590 - 593
• Main Authors: Linn, F.H.H., Wijdicks, E.F.M., van Gijn, J., Weerdesteyn-van Vliet, F.A.C., van der Graaf, Y., Bartelds, A.I.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 27.08.1994; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Aneurysm; Aneurysms; Biological and medical sciences; Carotid Artery Diseases - complications; Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnosis; Female; Headache; Headache - etiology; Headaches; Hemorrhage; Humans; Intracranial Aneurysm - complications; Leaks; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Neurological diseases; Neurology; Patients; Prospective Studies; Recognition; Rupture, Spontaneous; Subarachnoid hemorrhage; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - complications; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - diagnosis; Surgery; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Vascular disease; Human; Headache; Nervous system diseases; Aneurysm; Subarachnoid; Cardiovascular disease; Diagnosis; Hemorrhage; Cerebrovascular disease
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(94)91970-4

Retrospective surveys of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage suggest that minor episodes with sudden headache (warning leaks) may precede rupture of an aneurysm, and that early recognition and surgery might lead to improved outcome. We studied 148 patients with sudden and severe headache (possible sentinel headache) seen by 252 general practitioners in a 5-year period in the Netherlands. Subarachnoid haemorrhage was the cause in 37 patients (25%) (proven aneurysm in 21, negative angiogram in 6, no angiogram done in 6, sudden headache followed by death in 4). 103 patients had headache as the only symptom, 12 of whom proved to have subarachnoid haemorrhage (6 with a ruptured aneurysm). Previous bouts of sudden headache had occurred in only 2. Other serious neurological conditions were diagnosed in 18. In the remaining 93, no underlying cause of headache was found; follow-up over 1 year showed no subsequent subarachnoid haemorrhage or sudden death. In this cohort, acute, severe headache in general practice indicated a serious neurological disorder in 37% (95% Cl 29-45%), and subarachnoid haemorrhage in 25% (18-32%). 12% (5-18%) of those with headache as the only symptom. The notion of warning leaks as a less serious variant of subarachnoid haemorrhage is not supported by this study. Early recognition of subarachnoid haemorrhage is important but will probably have only limited impact on the outcome in the general population.