Migraine in the Andes and headache at sea level.
In Cerro de Pasco (CP), Peru (altitude 4338 m) 24% of men have migraine with aura. We studied 30 men. Twenty CP natives, examined in CP, were rated using a chronic mountain sickness (CMS) score to separate controls (10) from those with CMS (10), a maladaptation syndrome in natives to altitude which includes severe, recurring headache. We collected white cells in CP and, from the same men, within 1 h of arrival in Lima (150 m above sea level). Ten normal US men volunteered white cells for comparison. After RNA extraction we assessed gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Low ATP1A1 subunit of the ATPase gene mRNA expression in CP was correlated with headache (P=0.002), acral paraesthesias (P=0.004) and CMS score (P<0.001). ATP1A1 subunit expression was increased in all Andeans in Lima (P<0.001). There were no differences between Andean controls in Lima and US controls. Manipulation of Na+/K+ATPase could offer relief for migraineurs at sea level.
Appenzeller
O
O
New Mexico Health Enhancement and Marathon Clinics Research Foundation, Albuquerque, NM, USA. ottoarun12@aol.com
Minko
T
T
Qualls
C
C
Pozharov
V
V
Gamboa
J
J
Gamboa
A
A
Wang
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006261:Headache / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
C499076:ATP1A1 protein, human; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase