Increased familial risk of cluster headache.
The authors studied the occurrence of cluster headache in the families of 220 Italian patients with cluster headache. A positive family history was found in 20% (44/220) of the families. Compared with the general population, first-degree relatives had a 39-fold significantly increased risk of cluster headache. Second-degree relatives had an eightfold significantly increased risk. The increased familial risk strongly supports the hypothesis that cluster headache has a genetic component in some families.
Leone
M
M
Carlo Besta National Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
Russell
M B
MB
Rigamonti
A
A
Attanasio
A
A
Grazzi
L
L
D'Amico
D
D
Usai
S
S
Bussone
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors