Headache and kidney transplantation: an intriguing relationship

Several studies investigated the correlation between renal and neurological functions and their relative interactions, the so-called “kidney-brain crosstalk.” Patients with renal impairment often show neurological complications. Similarly, subjects undergoing to kidney transplantation are usually affected by several associated pathologies and neurological comorbidities usually affect 20% of this population. Among the most prevalent neurological complications, several reports describe different headache typologies, from migraine with aura to dialysis headache. In one of the largest studies performed on this topic, evaluating more than 4000 kidney transplant patients, headache was the second factor influencing quality of life, following only sexual or psychological pathologies [1]. However, few data are available about the specific characteristics of headache in patients submitted to kidney transplantation.