Clinical features of the dialysis headache:
(1) >= 3 episodes of acute headaches with features
(2) The acute headaches have 2 or more of the following:
(2a) The headache starts during a hemodialysis session.
(2b) The headaches stop with discontinuation of hemodialysis (following successful kidney transplantation)
(2c) one or both of the following:
(2c1) The headache worsens during the dialysis session.
(2c2) The headache stops within 72 hours after the end of the dialysis session.
(3) There is no other diagnosis that can explain the headaches better.
where:
• Some require that headaches occur in >= 50% of hemodialysis sessions.
Dialysis headaches may be associated with:
(1) the disequilibrium syndrome
(2) blood pressure abnormalities (hypertension or hypotension)
(3) significant weight change during the hemodialysis session
(4) dialysis conditions
Differential diagnosis:
(1) caffeine withdrawal headache
