Migraine genetics.
The genetics of migraine is a fascinating and moving research area. Familial hemiplegic migraine, a rare subtype of migraine with a Mendelian pattern of inheritance, is caused by mutations in the chromosome 19 CACNA1A gene in approximately 75% of the families. The finding of mutations in an ionchannel subunit defines migraine as a channelopathy (eg, epilepsy). The genetics of the more frequent variants, migraine with and without aura, is more complex. Several loci have been studied in families and case-control studies, but need to be confirmed.
Department of Neurology, K5Q, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
Esther
E
Kors
Joost
J
Haan
Michel
M
Ferrari
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy