Prevalence of migraine, tension‐type headache and trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis

Background:  Prevalence rates of headache in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients varied widely in recent studies. This study aimed to investigate the 1 year prevalence of headache in MS compared with the general population. Methods:  Population-based case–control study in Germany. Results:  We included 491 patients with definite MS (68% female, mean age 45.3 years, 63.7% relapsing remitting MS, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 3.2, 106 treated with interferon-β, 53 with glatiramer acetate, 271 untreated) and 447 age and gender matched controls. Headache was diagnosed with a validated questionnaire according to the International Headache Society Criteria. Headache prevalence was 56.2% (tension type headache 37.2%, migraine 24.6%). Headache prevalence rates did not differ from controls. Headache was not associated with disability or treatment. Trigeminal neuralgia was found in 6.3% of MS cases. Conclusion:  Results suggest that headache in MS patients reflects comorbidity in most conditions.