Hemicrania continua: recent treatment strategies and diagnostic evaluation.

Hemicrania continua (HC) is a primary headache disorder that is characterized by a continuous unilateral headache of moderate severity, exacerbations of severe pain, and complete responsiveness to indomethacin. HC was once thought to be a rare headache disorder, but now many cases have been reported. It is an underecognized headache syndrome. HC can be of continuous or remitting form. Variants such as hemicrania continua with aura have been described, and secondary cases may occur. Indomethacin is the best treatment, although HC could respond to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as the selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors.