The Clinical Spectrum of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine Associated with Mutations in a Neuronal Calcium Channel

Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Familial hemiplegic migraine, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by attacks of transient hemiparesis followed by a migraine headache, is divided into pure familial hemiplegic migraine (affecting 80 percent of families) and familial hemiplegic migraine with permanent cerebellar signs (affecting 20 percent of families). Mutations in CACNA1A, which encodes a neuronal calcium channel, are present in 50 percent of families with hemiplegic migraine, including all those with cerebellar signs. We studied the various clinical manifestations associated with mutations in CACNA1A in 28 families with hemiplegic migraine with and without cerebellar signs.