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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Do CH's run in families?
        
(Message started by: nools on Sep 21^st, 2006, 1:53pm)

Title: Do CH's run in families?
Post by nools on Sep 21^st, 2006, 1:53pm

just a quick question. Are CH's hereditary? My gran (who is now very, very old!) told me of a time when she had very similar symptoms to CH's many, many moons ago! She has gone a bit senile now so I'm not sure if she remembers correctly.

My aunt has also complained of having pain behind her right eye but I'm of the view that if it where CH's she would know. Or at least she would do anything to find out what was causing the pain since it's so severe!! Maybe she's one of those people who say 'oh yeah!! I get those too!!' and just doesn't really have a clue!

Does anyone have a person in their family who suffers from CH's? Got a bit interested after speaking about it today.

Nools

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by seasonalboomer on Sep 21^st, 2006, 1:57pm

Yes, my father has them, and so do I. Similar episodic.

The question, as you can imagine, has been broached here before. The outcome? Anectdotally, it certainly seems as though there is something to it. It would seem that if you can pass down a bum ticker, or inability to process cholesterol, then you oughta be able to pass a "dodgy hypothalamus".

scott

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by starlight on Sep 21^st, 2006, 2:35pm

Nobody in my family has them. That's why I wonder where did I get this messed up hypothalamus--no easy answers. Star

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by aubmari on Sep 21^st, 2006, 2:39pm

Yes my sister and I both get them I have had two cycles with about 2-3 years in between and going on 4 years since the last. My sister started getting them later than I did but has only had one cycle so far. Through talking to family we found out that my great grandmother suffered from them as well. Back then they just didn't know what they were. My grandmother can remember how bad they were for her mother when she was growing up and described the symptoms to a "T". It makes you wonder if it a defect of some sort in us that is transferred by our family members. I think there has to be something there.
Wishes for PF days to you! :)

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Karla on Sep 21^st, 2006, 2:52pm

I am chronic and my son is eposodic. I think it is a coincidence tho especially because his identical twin doesn't have them..

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Sep 21^st, 2006, 10:43pm

It seems it does for some but not for others; I come from a family of 8 and am the only one who suffers; neither of my 2 children who are in their 30's suffer.
I didn't start untill my early 50s

My sister in law is a sufferer and she comes from a family of 9 and is the only one who sufferers, neither of her 2 children who are in their late 20's / early 30's suffer.
My Sis in law started in her early 20's

None of our parents suffered from the condition either.

Its one choosy beast by my perception.

Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by JeffB on Sep 22^nd, 2006, 10:56am

I'm from a family of 5, pops and sis get migraines that lasts days. I'm the only I know of out of including cousins, uncles....that get ch's.

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 22^nd, 2006, 11:14am

Lancet Neurol. 2004 May;3(5):279-83.

Epidemiology and genetics of cluster headache.

Russell MB.

Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. m.b.russell@klinmed.uio.no

Cluster headache, the most severe primary headache, is characterised by unilateral pain, ipsilateral autonomic features, and, in many cases, restlessness. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of cluster headache is about one person per 500. Genetic epidemiological surveys indicate that first-degree relatives are five to 18 times-and second-degree relatives, one to three times-more likely to have cluster headache than the general population. Inheritance is likely to be autosomal dominant with low penetrance in some families, although there may also be autosomal recessive or multifactorial inheritance in others. To date, no molecular genetic clues have been identified for cluster headache. Identification of genes for cluster headache is likely to be difficult because most families reported have few affected members and genetic heterogeneity is likely. Future focus should be on ion channel genes and clock genes. This review summarises the epidemiology and genetics of cluster headache.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 15099542 [PubMed]
==================================
Neurology. 2001 May 8;56(9):1233-6.

Increased familial risk of cluster headache.

Leone M, Russell MB, Rigamonti A, Attanasio A, Grazzi L, D'Amico D, Usai S, Bussone G.

Carlo Besta National Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.

The authors studied the occurrence of cluster headache in the families of 220 Italian patients with cluster headache. A positive family history was found in 20% (44/220) of the families. Compared with the general population, first-degree relatives had a 39-fold significantly increased risk of cluster headache. Second-degree relatives had an eightfold significantly increased risk. The increased familial risk strongly supports the hypothesis that cluster headache has a genetic component in some families.

PMID: 11342697 [PubMed]

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by starlight on Sep 22^nd, 2006, 11:36am

Bob,
Good article--I had seen that article before and have to admit I couldn't make sense out of some of the scientific language with "autosomal dominant" and "autosommal recessive" and the other info with how exactly it gets passed down.
Wish I understood it better--Star

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by georgej on Sep 22^nd, 2006, 12:13pm

on 09/22/06 at 11:14:02, Bob_Johnson wrote:

Inheritance is likely to be autosomal dominant with low penetrance in some families, although there may also be autosomal recessive or multifactorial inheritance in others.

Seems reasonable to me. I'm aware of a number of people here who have closely consanguinous relatives who are also clusterheads, but I'm the only one on either side of my family for four generations that I know of. No migraineurs either.

Just anecdotal, I know, but interesting all the same.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Yorky on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 7:06pm

on 09/22/06 at 12:13:07, georgej wrote:

how many think its from a previous head trauma?
hey nools you coming to blackpool?

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Thomas_Martin on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 8:01pm

well, I'm from a family of 4. I inherited it from my father. Besides that only my fathers cousin has it too. He got it at a late age. think it was about 50. Me and my father got it early at about 18.

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by nools on Sep 24^th, 2006, 11:34am

hey yorky

Hopefully ill be able to make it to blackpool but all depends on work. Need to get details and stuff! Hope to see you and fellow sufferers then.

Nools

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Bond007 on Sep 24^th, 2006, 12:19pm

I come from a large extended family and I'm the only one who suffers from CH. However, my mom has severe migraines, my father has painfree migraines, Mom's Dad also had painfree migraines, and Dad's Dad has very minor migraines, meaning they are easily treatable by OTC meds and they'll go away in a couple of hours. So, unless all those occurrences of migraines resulted in one severe case of CH, y'all have got me!!! ::)

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by TxBasslady on Sep 24^th, 2006, 2:25pm

on 09/23/06 at 19:06:40, Yorky wrote:

how many think its from a previous head trauma?

I'm the only one in my family with CH.

I've never had any head trauma. I honestly don't think head trauma is a cause.

Jean

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 24^th, 2006, 9:10pm

I'm the only 1 in my family with clusters too. Hoping my son doesn't get them :-X

UNsolved

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by E-Double on Sep 24^th, 2006, 9:42pm

My mother gets what she has always called migraine, yet they wake her out of her sleep and are seasonal.......

I had her take the cluster quiz once and bingo.

I think she's a clusterhead.

She doesn't treat them any different than I used to, in fact I learned all of my old tricks from her.

I hope it stops with me!!!!

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by georgej on Sep 25^th, 2006, 2:25am

on 09/24/06 at 14:25:47, TxBasslady wrote:

I'm the only one in my family with CH.

I've never had any head trauma. I honestly don't think head trauma is a cause.

Jean

Never any head trauma here, either, Yorky. Just thought I should clear that up.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Jobette on Sep 25^th, 2006, 11:44pm

I am the only one on my mothers side of the family :-/, but was told that my father's brother has bad headaches that took him out of circulation for periods of time, but he is deceased as well as my father. My father was bi-polar and my brother has been diagnosed with that condition also and I wonder could my headaches be my form of that? Some of the meds are the same.
I have 2 children and I pray that this is not hereditary for their sakes. :P

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by mynm156 on Oct 1^st, 2006, 5:12am

Unfortunatly my son has had them episodically for two years now pretty much every Sept-December.

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Trond on Oct 1^st, 2006, 3:10pm

I am the onlyone in my family with CH, but my mother has trigeminus neuralgy. She took surgery for it several years ago and most of her symptoms are gone, but it makes me wonder......

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by Trond on Oct 1^st, 2006, 3:13pm

Ooops forgot to mention that I have had several head traumas 1990, 1993, 2003. I had CH before them but they certainly didnt make the CH any better.

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by kcopelin on Oct 1^st, 2006, 4:38pm

Maybe, maybe not, but I can tell you this...I pray every single day that none of my kids inherit this from me. The only good that could come out of that is they would have a mom who is totally there.
kathy

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by prcole18 on Oct 1^st, 2006, 5:56pm

I'm the only one who gets them out of a family of 5. My Dad used to get Migrains though, my brother gets migraines as well, but not CH.

Also niether of my kids get them thank god & I pray everyday that they don't!

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by LeLimey on Oct 1^st, 2006, 6:06pm

I have CH, I think my uncle had CH but since he committed suicide in 1970 I can't be sure and my son has CH.
There is a study into it taking place at Leicester University in the UK which Professor Trembath is always happy to recruit more ch'ers for. It's a simple blood test at your doctors for UK ch'ers so if anyone is interested please PM me for further info.
Helen

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by kcopelin on Oct 1^st, 2006, 8:39pm

Helen-that is cool-wonder if they have a similar study in the US?
kathy

Title: Re: Do CH's run in families?
Post by LeLimey on Oct 2^nd, 2006, 1:57pm

Kathy I don't know if one is actually in progress yet but I gave all the info I had from Prof Trembath to Dr Noah Rosen from thr Jefferson Headache Institute last year in Dallas. It might be worth contacting them to find out.
Helen