Search for correlations between genotypes and electrophysiological patterns in migraine: the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and visual evoked potentials
Corresponding Author
D Magis
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Dr Delphine Magis, Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology,CHR Citadelle, Boulevard du 12ème de Ligne, 1, 4000 Liège, Belgium.Tel. + 32 4223 8969, fax + 32 4225 6451, e-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorM Allena
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Search for more papers by this authorG Coppola
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
G.B. Bietti Eye Foundation-IRCCS, Department of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neurophthalmology, Rome, Italy and
Search for more papers by this authorL Di Clemente
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Search for more papers by this authorP Gérard
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Search for more papers by this authorJ Schoenen
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Neurobiology Research Centre CNCM, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
D Magis
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Dr Delphine Magis, Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology,CHR Citadelle, Boulevard du 12ème de Ligne, 1, 4000 Liège, Belgium.Tel. + 32 4223 8969, fax + 32 4225 6451, e-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorM Allena
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Search for more papers by this authorG Coppola
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
G.B. Bietti Eye Foundation-IRCCS, Department of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neurophthalmology, Rome, Italy and
Search for more papers by this authorL Di Clemente
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Search for more papers by this authorP Gérard
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Search for more papers by this authorJ Schoenen
Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium,
Neurobiology Research Centre CNCM, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Interictally, migraineurs have on average a reduction in habituation of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PR-VEP) and in mitochondrial energy reserve. 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is involved in folate metabolism and its C677T polymorphism may be more prevalent in migraine. The aim of this study was to search in migraineurs for a correlation between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and the PR-VEP profile. PR-VEP were recorded in 52 genotyped migraine patients: 40 female, 24 without (MoA), 28 with aura (MA). Among them 21 had a normal genotype (CC), 18 were heterozygous (CT) and 13 homozygous (TT) for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. Mean PR-VEP N1–P1 amplitude was significantly lower in CT compared with CC, and tended to be lower in TT with increasing age. The habituation deficit was significantly greater in CC compared with TT subjects. The correlation between the cortical preactivation level, as reflected by the VEP amplitude in the first block of averages, and habituation was stronger in CC than in CT or TT.
The MTHFR C677T polymorphism could thus have an ambiguous role in migraine. On one hand, the better VEP habituation which is associated with its homozygosity, and possibly mediated by homocysteine derivatives increasing serotoninergic transmission, may protect the brain against overstimulation. On the other hand, MTHFR C677T homozygosity is linked to a reduction of grand average VEP amplitude with illness duration, which has been attributed to brain damage.
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