Investigation of hormonal profile in 19 patients with cluster headache

Introduction: Current evidences has shown hypothalamic dysfunction in clusterheadache (CH).CH is so explosive that finding any relationship between this type ofheadache and different hormones could help to its better prevention and treatment.Methods and Materials: This study was performed in Isfahan University of medicalsciences from June 2006 to June 2007 among 131 CH patients. Data was obtainedfrom 19 of these cases randomly.Results: In our study we found statistically significant relation among cortisol,thyroid hormone (T3) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Among 19 CHPatients, 11 cases had low FSH level (57.9%) and three cases (15.8%) had highvalues. One case (5.3%) had low serum T3 level. 52.6% (10cases) demonstrated lowcortisol level. Other results for testosterone, T4, TSH and LH were not statisticallysignificant.Conclusion: The altered hormone level (cortisol, FSH, T3) is a further indication ofpermanent hypothalamic disturbance in cluster headache and might be a clue toprevent, or treat this severe headache by hormonal modification.Abbreviations: CH cluster headache, FSH follicle stimulating hormone, LH luteinizing hormone,TSH thyroid stimulating hormone, T3 and T4 thyroid hormones.