Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Family-based analysis of serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms in migraine with and without aura
A F K Karwautz1, S Campos de Sousa, C Wöber
1Headache Outpatient Centre, Department of Neuropsychiatry of Childhood and Adolescence, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. andreas.karwautz@meduniwien.ac.at
Abstract:
Genetic epidemiological twin studies have demonstrated a significant heritability for migraine, with > 60% of liability to migraine either with or without aura coming from additive genetic factors. Because of the essential role of serotonin in the pathophysiology and treatment of migraine, genes of the serotonin system are candidates for involvement in migraine. Consequently, we examined two functional VNTR polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene, the 5-HTTLPR and the intron 2 VNTR, in a sample of 212 family trios each with a proband with childhood migraine, 153 with migraine without aura (MoA) and 59 with migraine with aura (MA). For the first time, we used transmission disequilibrium test analysis with the program TDTPHASE to examine the transmission of these two markers and their haplotypes to offspring affected by migraine. We found no significant transmission distortion of any marker, with the common L allele of the 5-HTTLPR transmitted 170 times and not transmitted 178 times, and the S allele 130 vs. 122 times. Likewise, the common 12 allele of the intron 2 VNTR was transmitted 201 times and not transmitted 188 times, and the 10 allele 107 vs. 120 times. The markers were not associated with MoA and MA and none of the haplotypes was associated with overall migraine, MoA or MA. The 5-HTTLPR and the intron 2 VNTRs do not play a major role in susceptibility to migraine.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters