Breakthrough in migraine research reported

NEW DELHI, SEPT 21: A breakthrough in understanding the nature of a particular type of migraine has been reported by an Italian scientist...

NEW DELHI, SEPT 21: A breakthrough in understanding the nature of a particular type of migraine has been reported by an Italian scientist who, as a consequence of her research, warns that a single drug cannot serve all migraine patients.

Called Familial Hemiplegic Migraine FHM, it affects 10 per cent male and 20 per cent female population.

It is caused by malfunctioning of calcium channels that supply calcium 8212; an essential element required for communication between brain cells and memory 8212; to the brain.

Unlike a normal migraine which is controlled by a host of genes, FMH is controlled by a single gene that also controls the functioning of calcium channels.

But seven mutations genetic alterations that cause the disease were observed in various types of patients having the sickness.

8220;We worked on functional consequences of such mutations and found that these mutations are affecting calcium channels in migraine patients,8221; said Daniela Pietrobon of University of Padova, who presented her findings at the ongoing International Biophysics Congress here yesterday.

But surprisingly, mutations affect calcium supply differently in different patients. The supply is increased in some cases, while in others it decreases, she said.

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A single drug, therefore, could not be able treat all migraine patients, she said.

Patients need to be screened first to find the type of mutation and corresponding calcium channel activity before prescribing the drug, Daniella said.

A drug which was found good for one patient could worsen the condition in another patient due to opposite calcium channel activity, she added.

Daniella and her colleagues measured the amount of calcium passing through each channel and the total number of channels present in migraine patients. They also calculated how long these channels remained open to let calcium in.

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The findings, published in a recent issue of Journal Of Neuroscience, may provide a clue to understand other types of migraine too as calcium channel activity plays a very important role in all the cases, she said.

However, what triggers migraine still remains a mystery as there are a small number of patients with normal calcium channel activity who also suffer from the disease, she said.

8220;There is an unknown factor which plays an important role in precipitating the disease by periodically switching on and off the effects of mutation,8221; Daniella, a first time visitor to India, said.