La cefalea essenziale: recenti acquisizioni

Here is referred a concise and complete as much as possible review about the most important changes of the last years regarding the primary headache. Particular attention is taken to nosographic changes (a new classification 1988 of International Headache Society), to most accreditate etiopathogenetic hypotheses, as vascular and neurogenic, and to the new opinion that cephalic pain represents only a non specific answer to various injuries. The new therapeutical proposals are then quickly reviewed, to be added to the traditional treatments, pharmacological and not, for prophylaxis and for symptomatic treatments of acute attack. Among the drugs particular importance are raising the calcium entry blockers, new beta blocking agents, calcitonin and new serotoninergic agents, whereas among the non pharmacological techniques the most studies are biofeedback, acupuncture and TENS. Finally, now are showed some possible trends of research and the most likely prospects for the immediate future