Evidence That HFE H63D Variant Is a Potential Disease Modifier in Cluster Headache

The objective of the current study was to examine the association of the more commonHFE H63D variant, with the susceptibility to develop CH and diverse clinical phenotypes in a population of Southeastern European Caucasian (SEC) origin. Genomic DNA samples from 128 CH patients and 294 neurologically healthy controls were genotyped for theHFE rs1799945 (H63D) variant. H63D genotypic and allelic frequency distribution did not differ significantly between patients and controls (pā€‰> ā€‰0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly more frequent occurrence of the variant G allele in chronic compared to episodic CH patients, indicative for a possible correlation of theHFE gene with the susceptibility for disease chronification. Although homozygosity for the less prevalent H63D variant G allele was minimal in the CH cohort, the results of the present study are in accordance with previous studies in CH and migraine patients, suggesting thatHFE H63D variant modifies the disease clinical characteristics. Hence, despite the absence of a per se association with CH susceptibility in the current SEC cohort, variability inHFE gene may be potentially regarded as a disease modifier genetic factor in CH.
Source: Journal of Molecular Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research