Migraine
Chronic migraine and medication overuse headache
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
Founded in 1996, we are Taiwan's first specialized headache diagnosis and treatment team. Our members include researchers from Taipei Veterans General Hospital(TVGH) and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and we dedicated to clinical headache research, medical service, and education. Taiwan's headache epidemiology research, completed by our founder Professor Shuu-Jiun Wang, revealed a migraine prevalence of 9.1%, affecting over 2 million people and causing annual economic losses exceeding NT$460 million. Professor Wang established Taiwan's first headache clinic at TVGH, standardizing diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up protocols. To date, we have collected over 35,000 clinical headache records with a patient satisfaction rate of 93.3%. Our research focuses on conditions prevalent in Taiwan's headache population, including Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS) and Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension (SIH), in which we lead globally. We also established Taiwan's first inpatient headache treatment program, achieving world-class success rates and benefiting over 2,500 patients — making Taiwan an indispensable presence in international headache medicine.
Taiwan's First Medical-Center-Level Headache Team (1996)
Taiwan Headache Epidemiology — Defining the Landscape
Standardized Headache Clinic
Global Leadership in RCVS Research
Pioneering Diagnosis & Treatment of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension (SIH)
International Headache Education Hub
Over 18,000 fresh outpatients managed at the dedicated headache clinic
Over 2,500 inpatient admissions treated under the specialized headache inpatient model
19 peer-reviewed SCI papers published on adolescent headache
50 peer-reviewed SCI papers published on thunderclap headache
26 peer-reviewed SCI papers published on low pressure headache
Over 500 peer-reviewed SCI papers published by the team
Patient satisfaction rate of 93.3% at the headache clinic
Specialized headache inpatient model effectively manages status migrainosus and medication-overuse headache
Diagnosis of spontaneous intracranial hypotension: Development of heavily T2-weighted MR myelography for accurate localization of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks
Treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension: Targeted epidural blood patch achieves a higher success rate (87%) compared to non-targeted treatment (52%)
Treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension: Mean time to complete treatment is 2.2 days, with no new onstet of subdural hemorrhage complications
Diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: High-resolution magnetic resonance angiography indicates blood-brain barrier disruption
Diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound blood flow velocity exceeding 120 cm/s is associated with ischemic stroke risk, identifying high-risk patients
Treatment of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: Efficacy of calcium channel blockers confirmed for the management of thunderclap headache
Treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension: Targeted epidural blood patch achieves a higher success rate (87%) compared to non-targeted treatment (52%)
Treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension: Mean time to complete treatment is 2.2 days, with no new incidence of intracranial hemorrhage complications
Diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound blood flow velocity exceeding 120 cm/s is associated with ischemic stroke risk, identifying high-risk patients
Patient satisfaction rate of 93.3% at the headache clinic
Specialized headache inpatient model effectively manages status migrainosus and medication-overuse headache
The team's research achievements are internationally recognized, with global leadership in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) and spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). In 2004, the team confirmed the usage of calcium channel blockers for thunderclap headache, andidentified RCVS in 2007. Subsequent studies elucidated the pathophysiology of this disorder, with findings published in JAMA Neurology, Brain, and Annals of Neurology. For SIH, the team developed cerebrovascular ultrasound as a diagnostic method in 1999, followed by heavy T2-weighted MR myelography in 2009. The team demonstrated targeted epidural blood patch achieves an 87% treatment success rate. For migraine, the team established Taiwan's first inpatient headache treatment program, achieving world-class short- and long-term success rates. Due to these contributions, the team founder Professor Shuu-Jiun Wang was invited to be involved in the revision of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, beginning in 2009 — serving as the only Asian chairperson, overseeing diagnostic criteria in Chapter 4. The team's clinical excellence has attracted international recognition, including hosting the Asia Pacific Preceptorship for Migraine Management workshops at Taipei Veterans General Hospital in 2014 and 2019, which involved neurologists from Australia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Besides, the team provided fellowship training programs from numerous countries.
Standardized clinical workflows and database infrastructure: Established a headache clinic to standardize diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up protocols. The team achieve a patient satisfaction rate of 93.3%.
Non-invasive diagnostic imaging and detection: Introduced heavily T2-weighted MR myelography for the evaluation of spontaneous intracranial hypotension, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing misdiagnosis rates.
Clinical therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes: Demonstrated that targeted epidural blood patches could achieve a success rate of 87% for spontaneous intracranial hypotension.
Contribution to international classification criteria and clinical guidelines: Team leader Professor Shuu-Jiun Wang participated in the development of the 3rd &4th edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, serving as the only committee chair from Asia.
International medical education and clinical fellowship training: Hosted the Asia Pacific Preceptorship for Migraine Management, attracting neurologists from multiple countries to Taiwan for clinical training programs and advancing headache care across the Asia-Pacific region.
Academic sustainability and multidisciplinary collaboration: Integrated research resources from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and train specialists in headache medicine, establishing a clinical research framework designed to support long-term continuity in patient care and investigation.
