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Migraine genetics

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, K5Q, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Esther Kors MD, Joost Haan MD & Michel Ferrari MD

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  1. Esther Kors MD
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  2. Joost Haan MD
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  3. Michel Ferrari MD
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Kors, E., Haan, J. & Ferrari, M. Migraine genetics. Current Science Inc 7, 212–217 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-003-0075-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-003-0075-4

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