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Spontaneous low cerebrospinal fluid pressure headache: an emergency medicine perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2015

Justin S. Ahn ,
Cigdem Akincioglu ,
Irene Gulka  and
Grant Coome
Justin S. Ahn
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine
Cigdem Akincioglu
Affiliation:
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging
Irene Gulka
Affiliation:
Division of Radiology, Department of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, ON
Grant Coome*
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine
*
800 Commissioners Road,E1-102, London, ON N6A 5W9; Grant.Coome@lhsc.on.ca

Abstract:

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Spontaneous low cerebrospinal fluid pressure headaches are a rare but treatable cause of debilitating headaches. The condition is characterized by a postural headache in the absence of any recent spinal procedures and is exacerbated when upright and relieved when supine. Diagnosis and treatment are often delayed, however, due to a lack of recognition and awareness, as illustrated by this case report of a patient who had multiple emergency department visits before further investigations were sought.

Keywords

low cerebrospinal fluid pressure headachepostural headachespontaneous intracranial hypotension
Type
Case Report • Rapport de cas
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , January 2013 , pp. 53 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2013

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