Migraña con aura: Una mirada molecular a un problema hereditario

Abstract

Migraine with aura (MA) is a common neurological disorder characterized by severe episodes of headache, generally unilateral, which are preceded by a focal reversible neurological deficit. The studies on MA reveal the existence of familiar aggregation compatible with a high degree of heritability and a complex multifactorial mode of transmission. The genetic factors of MA are unknown. An association to a locus in the long arm of chromosome 4 at the level of 4q22-q25 was recently reported in families with MA in Finland. Objetive: To analyze the genomic DNA of 5 Chilean families with MA to determine if there is linkage to the locus described in Finish families. Metodology: Families with MA were selected applying the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society (ICD-10), in which the index case or a member of the family should have MA. The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral lymphocytes of members of each family (n = 25). Highly polymorphic genomic markers were used for the systematic analysis of the locus on 4q22-q25. Results and Discussion: The LOD score analysis of the 5 Chilean families investigated showed absence of linkage to the marker D4S1578 (maximum 0,35; p = 0.24). Due to the complexity of MA heritability it is possible that one or more loci different from the studied region are involved in the pathophysiology of MA. The study will continue with the inclusion of more family members and isolated MA cases, with the purpose of comparing Chilean and German families in an independent sample. © 2006 Sociedad de Neurología, Psiquiatría y Neurocirugía.