Can SUNCT be cured?

There is no cure for SUNCT/SUNA syndrome. Patients may benefit from administration of lamotrigine, topiramate, gabapentin or carbamazepine.

How long do SUNCT headaches last?

The headache attacks are typically accompanied by cranial autonomic signs that are unique to SUNCT. Each attack can last from five seconds to six minutes and may occur up to 200 times daily. TACs are caused by activation of the autonomic nervous system of the trigeminal nerve in the face.

How common is SUNCT?

The prevalence of SUNCT syndrome is not known, although the extremely low number of reported cases suggests that it is rare. The disorder has a male predominance (36 male patients, 16 female patients) with a sex ratio of 2.1 : 1.

How is Sunct syndrome treated?

Treatment of SUNCT can include IV lidocaine for acute attacks and, for prevention, antiseizure drugs (eg, lamotrigine, topiramate, gabapentin) and occipital nerve stimulation or blockade.

How long does SUNCT last?

The pain usually peaks within seconds of onset and may follow a pattern of increasing and decreasing intensity. Attacks typically occur in daytime hours and last from 5 seconds to 4 minutes per episode.

How rare is SUNCT?

The prevalence of SUNCT is unknown but it is very rare, notwithstanding some cases may have been misdiagnosed [2]. Approximately 100 cases were reported in the literature. The estimated incidence and prevalence was about 1.2 and 6.6/100,000, respectively [3].

Is SUNCT a cluster headache?

Abstract SUNCT is probably a dis- tinct syndrome, although it shares some common features with cluster headache (CH): male sex preponder- ance, clustering of attacks, unilateral- ity of headache without sideshift, pain of non-pulsating type with its maximum in the periocular area, ipsilateral autonomic phenomena (e.g. …

What does SUNCT feel like?

Symptoms of SUNCT and SUNA The pain can feel like burning, stabbing, throbbing or electric. Attacks also include other autonomic symptoms, such as forehead sweating, pressure around the affected eye, eyelid swelling and eye tearing on the affected side of the face.

What is the difference between SUNA and SUNCT?

SUNCT and SUNA are similar. There is a slight distinction in that SUNCT syndrome involves the two autonomic symptoms of eye redness and tearing, while SUNA can involve any of the autonomic symptoms. SUNA can also have slightly longer-lasting attacks, averaging 10 minutes.