The Role of Laboratory Testing in the Evaluation of Headache.
Med Clin North Am. 2013 Mar;97(2):217-224
Authors: Donohoe CD
Abstract
Blood tests have a minor role in headache management and that role is limited to a few secondary headache conditions. In headache, as with any symptom, laboratory tests should be chosen based on solid clues derived from the targeted history and physical examination. A shotgun approach to blood tests that includes rare diseases or those with low local prevalence frequently yields false-positive results, which exposes the patient to the expense, anxiety, and risk inherent in misdiagnosis. Keep it simple and do not forget about spinal fluid.
PMID: 23419622 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]