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Published on: September 23, 2015
5-HTTLPR polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene and migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Markus Schürks1, Pamela M Rist, Tobias Kurth
1Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215-1204, USA. mschuerks@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Background And Methods:
Data on the association between the SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and migraine are conflicting. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis among studies published up to September 2009. For each study with genotype information, we calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) assuming additive, dominant, and recessive genetic models. We then calculated pooled ORs and 95% CIs.
Results:
Among the ten studies identified there was no overall association between the polymorphism and any migraine for Europeans or Asians. However, European women carrying the S allele had an increased risk for any migraine (dominant model: pooled OR=2.02; 95% CI 1.24-3.28). Results among Europeans further suggested an increased risk for migraine with aura among carriers of the S/S genotype (recessive model: pooled OR=1.41; 95% CI 0.83-2.40).
Conclusions:
While our results indicate no overall association between the SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and migraine among Europeans and Asians, gender and migraine aura status may have modifying roles among Europeans.
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