G. Di Gennaro et al., Assessing the relative incidence of mitochondrial DNA A3243G in migraine without aura with maternal inheritance, HEADACHE, 40(7), 2000, pp. 568-571
Objective.-To determine whether patients with migraine without aura with ma
ternal "inheritance" are affected by a monosymptomatic form of the MELAS sy
ndrome (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike ep
isodes) or carry the most common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation associa
ted with MELAS, namely the A3243G transition in the transfer RNA (tRNA)(Leu
(UUR)), gene.
Background.-The association between migraine and abnormal mitochondrial fun
ction has been suggested on clinical, biochemical, and neuroradiological gr
ounds. Migraine attacks with vomiting and cerebral infarctions, most often
in the posterior cerebral regions, which are reminiscent of complicated mig
raine, are typical features of MELAS. The observation that migrainous patie
nts have affected mothers more often than affected fathers suggests a possi
ble role for maternally transmitted genetic factors.
Methods.-We studied 25 patients with migraine with aura whose mothers were
also affected. A sensitive polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment l
ength polymorphism analysis was used to detect mutated genomes.
Conclusions.-We failed to detect the MELAS mutation, but migraine may still
be associated with point mutations of mtDNA other than A3243G or with as-y
et-unidentified nuclear DNA factors related to mitochondrial function.