[Molecular genetics of migraine]

Migraine is a heterogeneous condition both clinically and genetically. Genetic and environmental factors are involved in migraine with and without aura. In most cases, genetic susceptibility has a polygenic pattern of inheritance with the exception of familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) which is a mendelian, autosomal dominant, condition. Two genes have been identified so far in FHM, Cav2.1 and ATP1A2. The identification of these two genes have provided clues to understand the mechanisms of this condition, particularly through the analysis of murine animal models harboring mutations detected in human FHM patients. These two genes do not seem to be involved in the other forms of migraine. A number of association and linkage studies have pointed to several loci and/or genetic variants. However most of these data need confirmation.