Marius Birlea, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Practice, Neurology

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Medical School:
  • MD, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj Napoca, Romania (1994)
Internship:
  • New York Medical College (Metropolitan) Program (2008)
Residency:
  • University of Colorado, Neurology (2011)
Fellowships:
  • University of Colorado, Neurology (2013)
Languages: English, Romanian, Spanish
Department: Neurology

Recognition & Awards

  • Resident, Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2011)
    Outstanding Resident Research Award
  • Resident, Internal Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital, New York (2008)
    Exceptional Resident Professionalism Award

Research Interests

Headache and inflammation, infectious causes of headache, behavioral implications with headache headache and associated cardio-vascular problems, headache after trauma, low and high cerebrospinal fluid disorders

Teaching

  • Associate professor of clinical practice (2020)
    School of Medicine, Neurology
    All types of head pains, including primary (migraine and others, with no cause known) or secondary (causes can be identified). Infections of the nervous system with alphaherpes viruses (varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex viruses). Low and high spinal fluid pressure disorders.

Publications

  • Carlisle TC, Birlea M, Restrepo D, Filley CM. Headache-Associated Phantosmia as a Harbinger of Lewy Body Dementia. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2023 Winter;35(1):92-97. PubMed PMID: 35989571
  • Callen AL, Pattee J, Thaker AA, Timpone VM, Zander DA, Turner R, Birlea M, Wilhour D, O'Brien C, Evan J, Grassia F, Carroll IR. Relationship of Bern Score, Spinal Elastance, and Opening Pressure in Patients With Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. Neurology. 2023 May 30;100(22):e2237-e2246. PubMed PMID: 37015821
  • Carlisle TC, Birlea M, Restrepo D, Filley CM. Headache-Associated Phantosmia as a Harbinger of Lewy Body Dementia. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2023 Winter;35(1):92-97. PubMed PMID: 35989571
  • Callen AL, Timpone VM, Schwertner A, Zander D, Grassia F, Lennarson P, Seinfeld J, Lillehei KO, Birlea M, Thaker AA. Algorithmic Multimodality Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal CSF Leak and Venous Fistula in Patients With Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2022 Aug;219(2):292-301. PubMed PMID: 35261281
  • Schwedt TJ, Hentz JG, Sahai-Srivastava S, Murinova N, Spare NM, Treppendahl C, Martin VT, Birlea M, Digre K, Watson D, Leonard M, Robert T, Dodick DW. Patient-Centered Treatment of Chronic Migraine With Medication Overuse: A Prospective, Randomized, Pragmatic Clinical Trial. Neurology. 2022 Apr 5;98(14):e1409-e1421. PubMed PMID: 35169011
  • Minen MT, Khanns D, Guiracocha J, Ehrlich A, Khan FA, Ali AS, Birlea M, Singh NN, Peretz A, Larry Charleston IV. The role of urgent care centers in headache management: a quality improvement project. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Feb 8;22(1):162. PubMed PMID: 35135555
  • Schwedt TJ, Sahai-Srivastava S, Murinova N, Birlea M, Ahmed Z, Digre K, Lopez K, Mullally W, Blaya MT, Pippitt K, Cutrer FM, DeLange J, Schecht H, Rizzoli P, Lane J, Wald J, Cortez MM, Martin VT, Spare NM, Hentz JG, Robert T, Dodick DW. Determinants of pain interference and headache impact in patients who have chronic migraine with medication overuse: Results from the MOTS trial. Cephalalgia. 2021 Sep;41(10):1053-1064. PubMed PMID: 33938249
  • Schwedt TJ, Hentz JG, Sahai-Srivastava S, Spare NM, Martin VT, Treppendahl C, Digre K, Bennett NL, Birlea M, Watson D, Murinova N, Robert T, Dodick DW. Headache characteristics and burden from chronic migraine with medication overuse headache: Cross-sectional observations from the Medication Overuse Treatment Strategy trial. Headache. 2021 Feb;61(2):351-362. PubMed PMID: 33432635
  • Schofield JR, Hughes HN, Birlea M, Hassell KL. A trial of antithrombotic therapy in patients with refractory migraine and antiphospholipid antibodies: A retrospective study of 75 patients. Lupus. 2021 Apr;30(4):568-577. PubMed PMID: 33402037
  • Schwedt TJ, Digre K, Tepper SJ, Spare NM, Ailani J, Birlea M, Burish M, Mechtler L, Gottschalk C, Quinn AM, McGillicuddy L, Bance L, Dumkrieger G, Chong CD, Dodick DW. The American Registry for Migraine Research: Research Methods and Baseline Data for an Initial Patient Cohort. Headache. 2020 Feb;60(2):337-347. PubMed PMID: 31755111
  • Birlea M, Cohrs RJ, Bos N, Mehta SK, Pierson DL, Gilden D. Search for varicella zoster virus DNA in saliva of healthy individuals aged 20-59 years. J Med Virol. 2014 Feb;86(2):360-2. PubMed PMID: 24338812
  • Birlea M, Nagel MA, Khmeleva N, Choe A, Kleinschmidt-Demasters B, Hevner R, Boyer P, Lear-Kaul KC, Bos N, Wellish M, Cohrs RJ, Gilden D. Varicella-zoster virus trigeminal ganglioneuritis without rash. Neurology. 2014 Jan 7;82(1):90-2. PubMed PMID: 24285619
  • Birlea M, Cohrs RJ, Bos N, Mehta SK, Pierson DL, Gilden D. Search for varicella zoster virus DNA in saliva of healthy individuals aged 20-59 years. J Med Virol. 2014 Feb;86(2):360-2. PubMed PMID: 24338812
  • Birlea M, Nagel MA, Khmeleva N, Choe A, Kleinschmidt-Demasters B, Hevner R, Boyer P, Lear-Kaul KC, Bos N, Wellish M, Cohrs RJ, Gilden D. Varicella-zoster virus trigeminal ganglioneuritis without rash. Neurology. 2014 Jan 7;82(1):90-2. PubMed PMID: 24285619
  • Birlea M, Owens GP, Eshleman EM, Ritchie A, Traktinskiy I, Bos N, Seitz S, Azarkh Y, Mahalingam R, Gilden D, Cohrs RJ. Human anti-varicella-zoster virus (VZV) recombinant monoclonal antibody produced after Zostavax immunization recognizes the gH/gL complex and neutralizes VZV infection. J Virol. 2013 Jan;87(1):415-21. PubMed PMID: 23077312
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Professional Memberships

  • International Society for Neurovirology (ISN), Member
  • International Headache Society (IHS), Member
  • American Headache Society (AHS), Member
  • American Neurological Association, Member
  • American Academy of Neurology, Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth Neurosciences Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
4th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2080

UCHealth Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Neurology, Board Certification (2011)
  • UCNS Headache Medicine Certified, Certificate (2014)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Brain and Nervous System
  • Brain and Nervous System - Neurovascular Conditions
  • Brain and Nervous System - Migraine
  • Brain and Nervous System - Neuromuscular Diseases
  • Brain and Nervous System - Meningitis
  • Brain and Nervous System - Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injuries
  • Brain and Nervous System - Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Infections - Viral Infections
  • Brain and Nervous System - Stroke
  • Infections
  • Brain and Nervous System - Chiari Malformation
  • Brain and Nervous System - Spine Diseases and Conditions
Clinical Interests
My many clinical interest include any head and face pain conditions, viral infections of the nervous system, low/high spinal fluid pressure conditions as well as stroke or neurological disorders that are post traumatic, inflammatory or involve peripheral nervous system

Care Philosophy
I dedicate all my attention to the patient in front of me and is always my pleasure to be available whenever possible with questions or concerns.

Personal Interests
Whenever possible, I love spending time with my family (wife and two children) and reading, listening to music, playing soccer.

Volunteer Activities
Raising awareness on migraine

Public Speaking
Yes
Various headache topics

General Information

Medical Schools:
  • MD, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj Napoca, Romania (1994)
Internships:
  • New York Medical College (Metropolitan) Program (2008)
Residency Programs:
  • University of Colorado, Neurology (2011)
Fellowships:
  • University of Colorado, Neurology (2013)
Download CV
Languages: English, Romanian, Spanish
Department: Neurology
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