Abstract Details

Title Do Genetic Factors Determine the Phenotypic Severity of Migraine?

Topic Headache

Presentation(s) P06 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 155

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: The phenotypic severity of migraine has rarely been the subject of genetic epidemiological studies. In one population-based study, Stewart et al reported that disabling migraine symptoms in the subjects correlated with the risk of migraine in their relatives, but no relationship was found with the age of onset.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional survey in high school students using a validated questionnaire including the diagnostic features of migraine as specified by the ICHD-II. The phenotypic severity of migraine was assessed using the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). We documented the history and severity of headaches in their parents and correlated it with a diagnosis of migraine in the offspring.

Results RESULTS: The participants included 272 students with mean age of 16.45 years. When one of the parents suffered from disabling headaches, the odds ratio for the subjects developing migraine was modestly increased (1.68). When both parents were affected by disabling headaches, the odds ratio for migraine in the offspring increased markedly (2.11). Logistic regression analysis with chi-square test of homogeneity of odds indicated a significant association of the students' risk of developing migraine with a history of disabling headaches in both parents (p <0.02). Moreover, having two affected parents was associated with lower age of onset of migraine (chi-square, p<0.04) and higher HIT-6 scores (t-test, p<0.02) in the subjects.

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: Having two parents with disabling headaches doubles the odds ratio for developing migraine in the offspring. It is also associated with increased migraine related disability as measured by HIT-6 and younger age of onset of migraines. We propose that assessing the clinical severity of headaches may represent a novel approach in studying genetic epidemiology of migraine.

Authors/Disclosures
Mitra Assadi Khansare, MD, FAAN (Christiana Care) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Yadira Velazquez-Rodriguez, MD	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Matthew Farrer, PhD (University of British Columbia)	No disclosure on file

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