THE GENETICS OF MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA AND MIGRAINE WITH AURA

Studies of twins, spouses and familial aggregation strongly suggest th at migraine without aura (MO) and migraine with aura (MA) are genetica lly determined. The mode of inheritance is most likely multifactorial in both MO and MA. However, autosomal dominant inheritance with reduce d penetrance cannot be excluded in either MO or MA. At present the onl y evidence for genetic heterogeneity of MA is familial hemiplegic migr aine with slowly progressive ataxia. This phenomenon can also be expla ined by linkage of different genes. All existing studies have been cha racterized by one or more of the following methodologic shortcomings: selection of probands from clinic populations, information obtained by questionnaire, family history obtained through probands, insufficient description of the attacks, lack Of distinction between MO and MA. Us eful strategies for future studies of migraine genetics are discussed.