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Published on: June 2, 2014
Plasma homocysteine in patients of migraine without aura
Faraz Ahmed Bokhari1, Tania A Shakoori, Syed Ahmad A Hassan
1Department of Physiology, University of Health Sciences/Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore, Pakistan. drfarazbokhari@yahoo.com
Background:
Few studies have studied the role of homocysteine in migraineurs and have produced conflicting results. The MTHFR C677T genotype has been associated with increased risk of migraine in selected clinical samples. We assessed the association of the MTHFR C677T variant with migraine, the corresponding homocysteine levels and their correlation.
Method:
We studied 27 random adult migraineurs with aura (MWA), migraine without aura (MWOA), and 32 non-migraineurs (controls) from Lahore, Pakistan in this pilot study which is still under progress.
Results:
We found significant differences in homocysteine levels between various diagnostic groups (K-W test: p=0.005). One-way ANOVA, post-hoc tests revealed significant differences in homocysteine levels between Non-migraineurs, MWA (p=0.002, CI: 1.93 - 9.19) and MWoA (p=0.002, CI: -9.19 - -1.9). We found a significant association between the migraine group and C677T-MTHFR variant mutant allele (C/T) (p=0.039). We did not find a significant association between C677T-MTHFR variant and homocysteine levels.
Conclusion:
In this pilot study, we found plasma homocysteine levels to be significantly associated with MWOA. Additionally, plasma homocysteine levels were lower in MWA than in MWOA. Furthermore, we did not find a relationship between homocysteine levels and the MTHFR variant (SNP rs1801133). Lastly, there may be a relationship between the MTHFR variant (SNP rs1801133) and migraine in this population.
Insights
This study found higher homocysteine levels in migraine patients, particularly those with migraine without aura. While the MTHFR C677T variant may be linked to migraine, it did not correlate with homocysteine levels in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Conflicting results exist regarding homocysteine levels in migraineurs.
- The MTHFR C677T genotype is potentially linked to increased migraine risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between the MTHFR C677T variant and migraine.
- To determine the correlation between homocysteine levels and migraine.
- To investigate the relationship between the MTHFR C677T variant and homocysteine levels in migraineurs.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 27 adult migraineurs (with and without aura) and 32 controls.
- Analysis of homocysteine levels and MTHFR C677T genotype in participants.
- Statistical analysis including Kruskal-Wallis test and ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in homocysteine levels were observed across diagnostic groups (p=0.005).
- Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in both migraine with aura (MWA) and migraine without aura (MWOA) groups compared to controls.
- A significant association was found between the migraine group and the C677T-MTHFR variant mutant allele (p=0.039), but not between the variant and homocysteine levels.
Conclusions:
- Plasma homocysteine levels are significantly associated with migraine without aura.
- Plasma homocysteine levels were lower in migraine with aura than in migraine without aura.
- No relationship was found between homocysteine levels and the MTHFR C677T variant (SNP rs1801133), but a potential link between the variant and migraine exists in this population.
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