Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Genes and Cluster Headaches
        
(Message started by: georgej on Jul 10^th, 2006, 2:06am)

Title: Genes and Cluster Headaches
Post by georgej on Jul 10^th, 2006, 2:06am

Here's a new abstract from "Neurology" that you might find interesting. I'm going to try to track down the full text.

1: Neurology. 2006 Jun 27;66(12):1917-9. Epub 2006 Mar 22. Related Articles, Links

Cluster headache is associated with the G1246A polymorphism in the hypocretin receptor 2 gene.
Schurks M, Kurth T, Geissler I, Tessmann G, Diener HC, Rosskopf D.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. schuerks@hotmail.com
The G1246A polymorphism in the gene of the hypocretin receptor 2 (HCRTR2) has been linked to the risk for cluster headache (CH). The authors examined this association in a large sample of 226 patients with CH and 266 controls from Germany. The genotype and allele distribution varied significantly between patients and controls. Homozygous carriers of the G-allele had a twofold increase in risk for CH (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.32 to 2.92; p = 0.0007).
PMID: 16554494 [PubMed - in process]

On an unrelated note--

I'd also be interested to know whether there has been any investigation into whether there may be a connection between CH and Factor V Leiden heterozygousity, a genetic peculiarity I share with about five percent of the population. Being heterozygous for Factor V Leiden causes the blood to coagulate far faster than normal--we almost never bruise, and any bleeding we have stops abruptly. It's not a morbid condition, just a variation. Isn't even troubling, just odd. Genes often have multiple expressions, so it may be doing something else as well.

Do you bruise easily, or not? I'd never have known about it if my youngest brother hadn't turned out to have an untimely (and non-fatal) blood clot in his spine. My other sibling and I got tested for it. He was negative, and I was positive.

May be nothing. Just a question.

Regards,

George