Polymorphisms in the Renin‐Angiotensin System and Migraine in Women

BACKGROUND: Recent findings suggest an association between the renin-angiotensin system and migraine. However, genetic studies are scarce and controversial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the AGTR1 1166A > C and AGT Met235Thr polymorphisms with migraine and migraine aura status. METHODS: We performed an association study among 25,000 Caucasian US women, participating in the Women's Health Study, with information on the AGTR1 1166A > C and AGT Met235Thr polymorphisms. Migraine and migraine aura status were self-reported. We distinguished between any history of migraine, active migraine with aura, active migraine without aura, and prior migraine (history of migraine, but not in the year prior to baseline). We used logistic regression to investigate the genotype-migraine association. RESULTS: At baseline, 4577 (18.3%) women reported any history of migraine; 39.5% of the 3226 women with active migraine indicated aura. The polymorphisms were not associated with migraine or migraine-specific subgroups. We also did not find a significant interaction between the polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this large cohort of Caucasian women do not suggest an association of polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system with migraine or aura status. Future studies should focus on haplotype analyses and additional gene-gene as well as gene-environment interactions.