Association of the Apolipoprotein E polymorphism with migraine: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene has been reported to be associated with migraine and tension-type headache (TTH), but the results are conflicting. This study aimed to evaluate the association of ApoE with migraine by a meta-analysis.


METHODS
MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE databases were searched to identify eligible studies published in English from 2000 to 2014. Data were extracted using standardized forms. The association was assessed by relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a fixed or random effects model.


RESULTS
Four studies, comprising 649 migraineurs, 229 TTH subjects and 975 controls, met all the criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. No significant difference was found comparing genotypic and allelic frequencies in the case of migraineurs versus controls and TTH subjects versus controls. Only when migraineurs and TTH subjects were considered as a whole group, ApoE4 was found to increase the relative risk of headache by 1.48 (95% CI 1.16, 1.90; P = 0.002), compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
ApoE ε4 allele is not associated with migraine susceptibility, but is positively related to headache (including migraine and TTH).
Department of Neurology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, 201 Hubinnan Road, Xiamen, 361004, China. miaojiayin2006@163.com.
Jiayin
J
Miao
Department of Electronic Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plasma and Magnetic Resonance, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China. fwang@jmu.edu.cn.|College of Computer Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China. fwang@jmu.edu.cn.
Feng
F
Wang
Department of Neurology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, 201 Hubinnan Road, Xiamen, 361004, China. Zhengweihong666@163.com.
Weihong
W
Zheng
Department of Neurology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, 201 Hubinnan Road, Xiamen, 361004, China. webwind_wf@163.com.
Xiaorong
X
Zhuang
D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006261:Headache / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E