We investigated whether polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal NOS (nNOS), and GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH) genes are involved in the aggravation of migraine induced by overuse of medications. We studied 47 patients with migraine (six males and 41 females; 36.4 ± 10.3 years of age) and 22 patients with migraine exhibiting medication overuse headache (MOH, one male and 21 females; 39.6 ± 9.9 years of age). The genotypes of polymorphisms of the eNOS (rs1799983), nNOS (rs2682826), and GTPCH (rs841) genes were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The genotypic distributions of rs2682826 (T/T plus T/C vs. C/C, P = 0.254), rs1799983 (G/G vs. G/T plus T/T, P = 1.000), and rs841 (T/T plus T/C vs. C/C, P = 0.149) were not significantly different between patients with migraine and patients with MOH. The results of this study showed an absence of association between the polymorphisms of eNOS, nNOS, and GTPCH genes and the complication of MOH in patients with migraine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Valproate is used as a prophylactic drug for migraine, but it is not be effective in all patients. We used medical records to investigate which clinical factors affected the response to valproate in patients with migraine as an original headache, and established a scoring system for predicting the clinical response to prophylactic therapy. METHODS: We investigated clinical factors from the medical records of 95 consistent responders (CRs) and 24 inconsistent responders (IRs) to valproate. RESULTS: Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of hyperlipidemia and hay fever and the complication of depression or other psychiatric disorder were significant factors that independently contributed to a negative response, with odds ratios of 6.024 [no vs. yes; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.616–22.222], 2.825 (no vs. yes; 95% CI=1.046–7.634), and 2.825 (no vs. yes; 95% CI=1.052–7.576), respectively. A predictive index (PI) of the clinical response to valproate in patients with migraine was calculated using the regression coefficients of these three factors as an integer, and the index was significantly higher for IRs than for CRs (1.46±1.10 vs. 0.69±0.74, mean±SD, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained PI may represent an appropriate scoring system for predicting the responses in these patients.
Depression ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Migraine Disorders* ; Odds Ratio ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Risk Factors ; Valproic Acid*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Migraine patients are particularly prone to the complication of medication-overuse headache (MOH). Although it has been shown that A allele carriers for the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-beta gene G252A polymorphism are at high risk of the development of migraine without aura, the relationship between the TNF-beta gene G252A polymorphism and MOH is unknown. We investigated whether the TNF-beta gene G252A polymorphism is involved in the aggravation of migraine by overuse of medications. METHODS: Forty-seven migraine patients (6 males and 41 females; age 36.4+/-10.3 years, mean+/-SD) and 22 MOH patients (1 male and 21 females; age 39.6+/-9.9 years) who had migraine were included in this study. The genotype for the TNF-beta gene G252A polymorphism was determined by polymerase-chain-reaction restriction-fragment-length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: The distribution of TNF-beta gene G252A genotype frequency differed significantly between migraine and MOH patients (p=0.013). The G/G genotype was carried by 23% of the migraine patients but it was absent in MOH patients. CONCLUSIONS: G/G genotype carriers appear to be less susceptible to the aggravation of migraine by overuse of medications. The G252A TNF-beta gene polymorphism may be one of the factors contributing to the complications of MOH in patients with migraine.
Alleles ; Genotype ; Headache ; Humans ; Lymphotoxin-alpha ; Male ; Migraine Disorders ; Migraine without Aura ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the use of goreisan for headaches caused by weather and atmospheric pressure changes, and to clarify issues in promoting treatment with goreisan. The subjects were men and women in their 20s to 40s who developed headaches due to changes in weather and atmospheric pressure. Medication was used by 58.0% of the migraine group and 42.5% of the other headaches group. Among them, 27.5% of the migraine group and 15.1% of the other headaches group had used goreisan. Regarding the method of use of goreisan, the most common answer for the migraine group was “used after feeling a sign that headache is likely to occur,” whereas for the other headaches group, the most common response was “used after headache has occurred.” In the migraine group, the most frequent premonitory symptom was “stiffness in the shoulders and neck.” More than 80% of both groups were satisfied with the use of goreisan. In addition, 77.8% of migraine group and 59.5% of the other headaches group of those who had never used goreisan answered that they would like to use goreisan for headaches caused by weather or atmospheric pressure changes in the future. As a reason for not wanting to use goreisan, over half of both groups answered that they did not like the taste of herbal medicines. It is necessary to offer tablets to patients that do not like the taste.