A polymorphism in the interleukin-1alpha gene influences the clinical features of migraine

To evaluate whether a particular genotype of the interleukin-1alpha (IL1A) gene affects the clinical features of migraine. Proinflammatory mediators have been reported to play a role in the pathophysiology of migraine. Recent studies suggest that polymorphisms in the interleukin-1 genes influence the age at onset and subsequent course of several chronic inflammatory diseases. In a group of 269 patients with migraine, we tested the association of the -889 C/T biallelic polymorphism of the IL1A gene with several clinical features of the disease. Patients with migraine carrying the T/T genotype show an age at onset of the disease that is significantly (P