Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore pathogenesis of headache after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) whether related with immune inflammatory reaction in subarachnoid and observe the effect of immunosuppressive action of dexamethasone on headache.Methods80 patients who was consciousness and complained headache after SAH were randomly divided into four groups, treated only with mannitol, mannitol plus cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) replacement, intrathecal and vein injection with dexamethasone. Effects of four groups were observed.ResultsEfficiencies of four groups were respectively the mannitol group 27.27%, the permutation group 66.67%, the intrathecal group 92.36% and the vein group 30.00%. There was a significantly difference between the intrathecal group and other three groups, and the time of headache remission for intrathecal group was also longer than that of other three groups (P<0.01).ConclusionThe wide immune inflammatory responses in subarachnoid induced by degenerative and hemic CSF is likely main cause of headache after SAH and intrathecal injection with dexamethasone has an obviously effect.

Key words: subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), headache, cerebrospinal fluid replacement, dexamethasone