SUNCT SYNDROME IN THE FEMALE

Two female patients suffering from SUNCT syndrome are presented. They are the first female SUNCT cases reported (of a total of 16 cases hitherto seen by us, reported to us, or published). Also some minor modifications of the hitherto known clinical symptomatology of SUNCT syndrome have been observed. Attacks could be triggered in a variety of ways. A short latency between the application of a precipitating stimulus and the onset of pain was noted. An occasional inability of a given precipitating maneuver to activate the pain was also noted. The temporal pattern of pain was partly characterized by the typical, ''plateau-like'' pattern, but with ultrashort exacerbations. In part, the pain attacks were characterized by steeple or spike-like pain waves, that did not quite subside to the baseline (''repetitive pattern''). Autonomic signs such as lacrimation and conjunctival injection were rather marked, as is generally the case in SUNCT syndrome. Rhinorrhea was present in both patients, and in one patient the rhinorrhea was unusually marked. Carbamazepine treatment seemingly brought about a slight decrease in the frequency of attacks.