No influence of 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism on migraine symptomatology, comorbid depression, and chronification.
BACKGROUND
The serotonergic system is thought to play an important role for mediating susceptibility to migraine and depression, which is frequently found comorbid in migraine. The functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR/SLC6A4) was previously associated with attack frequency and, thus, possibly with chronification.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that patients with the "s" allele have higher attack frequency and, paralleling results in depression research, higher scores of depression.


METHODS
Genetic analysis of the SLC6A4 44 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) was performed in 293 patients with migraine with and without aura. Self-rating questionnaires were used for assessment of depression.


RESULTS
Multinomial logistic regression analysis found no evidence for association of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with either depression or migraine attack frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
We were not able to demonstrate any influence of the serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR polymorphism on migraine phenomenology (attack frequency or comorbid depression), thereby excluding this variant to be a common genetic denominator for chronic migraine and depression.
Neurologie, Krankenhaus Göttlicher Heiland, Vienna, Austria.
Thomas
T
Wieser
Kathrin
K
Dresler
Stefan
S
Evers
Charly
C
Gaul
Dorothea
D
König
Daniela
D
Hölzl
Klaus
K
Berger
Dale
D
Nyholt
Thomas
T
Deufel
D000328:Adult; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D005819:Genetic Markers; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin