Abstract

Episodic paroxysmal hemicrania was delineated as a clinical entity only two years ago, separating patients whose attacks remained grouped in bouts lasting weeks, from those who started irregularly and lapsed into chronicity or began and continued in the chronic state. A further case of the episodic variety and a review of the nine previously recorded cases is reported. The division into episodic and chronic variants of paroxysmal hemicrania conforms with the classification of cluster headache. The similarity of the two conditions is emphasised although the response to indomethacin in paroxysmal hemicrania is a special feature.