A polymorphism in the interleukin-1α gene influences the clinical features of migraine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a particular genotype of the interleukin-1alpha (IL1A) gene affects the clinical features of migraine.BACKGROUND: Proinflammatory mediators have been reported to play a role in the pathophysiology of migraine. Recent studies suggest that polymorphisms in the interleukin-1 genes influence the age at onset and subsequent course of several chronic inflammatory diseases.METHODS: In a group of 269 patients with migraine, we tested the association of the -889 C/T biallelic polymorphism of the IL1A gene with several clinical features of the disease. RESULTS:Patients with migraine carrying the T/T genotype show an age at onset of the disease that is significantly (P <.01) lower than IL1A C/C or C/T carriers. In addition, the same genotype was significantly (P <.05) more frequent in patients with migraine with aura than in patients with migraine without aura.CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest a role for the IL1A gene in modifying the clinical features of migraine.