Prevalence of HLA DQB10602 allele in patients with migraine

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2007-12, Vol.65 (4B), p.1123-1125
• Main Authors: Coelho, Fernando Morgadinho Santos, Pradella-Hallinan, Márcia, Abud, Paulo Corrêa, Predazzoli Neto, Mario, Moreira, Fabio, Bittencourt, Lia Rita Azeredo, Peres, Mario Fernandes Pietro, Tufik, Sérgio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alleles; Case-Control Studies; Female; Genetic Markers; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; HLA-DQ Antigens - genetics; HLA-DQ beta-Chains; Humans; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Migraine with Aura - genetics; Migraine without Aura - genetics; NEUROSCIENCES; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; PSYCHIATRY
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2007000700005

Studies have shown a high prevalence of migraine among narcoleptic patients. HLA-DQB1*0602 and HLA DRB1 alleles are closely associated with narcolepsy. An increase in the HLA-DRB1 allele frequency in patients with visual aura has raised greater awareness of the genetic background in migraine. Since the regions DR and DQ of the HLA are in tightly linkage desiquilibrium we hypothesize that HLA-DQB1*0602 might be associated to the pathophysiology of migraine. We analyzed the presence of HLA DQB1*0602 allele in 50 healthy subjects with no history of migraine, 53 patients with migraine without aura and 52 patients with migraine with aura. There was no difference in the frequency of HLA DQB1*0602 allele when control subjects and all patients were compared. We failed to note any difference in frequencies when comparing migraine patients with and without aura. Further studies with different patient populations, with other hypothalamic markers (melatonin, hypocretin) in migraine patients may shed light on to its pathophysiology.