Coexistence of CACNA1A, ATP1A2, and KCNN3 gene mutation in migraine patients with human platelet polymorphism

OBJECTIVE: To look for any possible coexistence of CACNA1A, ATP1A2, and KCNN3 gene mutations in migraine patients who had human platelet HPA-1a/1b polymorphism, which is also known as PlA1/A2 polymorphism.

METHODS: The study was carried out at the Neurology Clinic, Hospital University Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia between April 2004 and March 2005. The DNA from 4 patients who had migraine with the HPA1a/1b polymorphism were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction using the allele specific oligonucleotide technique to detect the presence of CACNA1A, ATP1A2, and KCNN3 genotypes.

RESULTS: We found that the CACNA1A gene mutation alone was present in only one patient who presented with classical migraine with aura. The gene mutations on ATP1A2 and KCNN3 were seen in none of our 4 cases with migraine.

CONCLUSION: There is no coexistence between the platelet HPA-1a/1b polymorphism and the ATP1A2 and KCNN3 gene mutations, though one classical migraine patient with HPA-1a/1b polymorphism had the CACNA1A gene mutation. Larger studies are warranted to confirm these findings.