Pediatric and Adolescent Headache in Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy Patients – an Observational Study

Background: Headaches in Duchenne and Becker Muscular dystrophies was not investigated. The aim of this study to evaluate the prevalence, type and clinical parameters associated with headaches in these patients.

Methods: Children and adolescents aged 2.5-18 years with an established diagnosis of muscular dystrophy who visited the multi-disciplinary neuromuscular pediatric clinic were enrolled. The patients and their parents received a questionnaire regarding the existence of headache and its features, and regarding emotional and social factors.

Results: The cohort included 68 patients, all males. The mean age was 9.0 ± 3.8 years. Forty-eight patients (70.6%) had Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the others had Becker muscular dystrophy. Overall, 22 (32.4%) patients reported headaches, among them, 10 (45.5%) had a diagnosis of migraine. Patients with headache were older than those without headache (p=<0.001), their blood creatine kinase level was significantly lower (p=0.0142), and they had a significantly higher proportion of other pain (p=0.0086). Their SDQ emotional scale score was significantly higher than those without headaches (p=0.0004).

Conclusions: The prevalence of headache among patients with muscular dystrophy is high. It is related to the severity of the disease, to other locations of pain and to emotional difficulties. Physicians who take care of those children and adolescents may consider actively screen for headache and to offer appropriate, inclusive treatment.