Failure to replicate association between the gene for the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 4 subunit (CHRNA4) and IGE

The gene for the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha4 subunit ( CHRNA4) was identified as a gene underlying a rare idiopathic partial epile psy syndrome in humans, autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE). In a recent study, one of four silent polymorphisms (594 C/T) in CHRNA4 showed association with the common subtypes of idiopathic generalise d epilepsy (IGE). In the present study, three of these polymorphisms were i nvestigated for association in 182 Caucasian patients with IGE, but not cat egorised by subtype. They were compared with 178 controls in a case/control study. Further analyses were performed using a family-based design. None o f the three polymorphisms exhibited any association with IGE. (C) 2000 Wile y-Liss, Inc.