Table 5 Recommended diagnostic criteria for dialysis-related headache

10.2 The diagnostic criteria of headache during dialysis

Headache occurring during and caused by hemodialysis. It resolves spontaneously within 72 hours after the hemodialysis session has ended.

 A. At least three episodes of acute headache fulfilling the criteria C

 B. The patient is undergoing hemodialysis

 C. Evidence of causation demonstrated by at least two of the following:

  1. each headache occurred during or two and a half hours after haemodialysis

  2. either or both of the following:

   a) each headache has worsened during the dialysis session

   b) each headache has resolved within 72 hours after the end of the dialysis session

  3. headache episodes cease altogether after successful kidney transplantation and termination of hemodialysis

 D. Headache has one of the following characteristics

  1) moderate intensity

  2) located at bilateral frontal-temporal lobe

  3) the mean duration less than four hours

 E. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

Caffeine is rapidly removed by dialysis: 8.3.1 Caffeine-withdrawal headache should be considered in patients who consume large quantities of caffeine.