Syncope in Migraine: A Genome-Wide Association Study Revealing Distinct Genetic Susceptibility Variants Across Subtypes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Syncope is characterized by the temporary loss of consciousness and is commonly associated with migraine. However, the genetic factors that contribute to this association are not well understood. This study investigated the specific genetic loci that make patients with migraine more susceptible to syncope as well as the genetic factors contributing to syncope and migraine comorbidity in a Han Chinese population in Taiwan.

METHODS

A genome-wide association study was applied to 1,724 patients with migraine who visited a tertiary hospital in Taiwan. The patients were genotyped using the Affymetrix Axiom Genome-Wide TWB 2.0 array and categorized into the following subgroups based on migraine type: episodic migraine, chronic migraine, migraine with aura, and migraine without aura. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the relationships between specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the clinical characteristics in patients with syncope and migraine comorbidity.

RESULTS

In patients with migraine, SNPs were observed to be associated with syncope. In particular, the rs797384 SNP located in the intron region of was associated with syncope in all patients with migraine. Additionally, four SNPs associated with syncope susceptibility were detected in the nonmigraine control group, and these SNPs differed from those in the migraine group, suggesting distinct underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, the rs797384 variant in the intron region of was associated with the score on the Beck Depression Inventory.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel genetic loci identified in this study will improve our understanding of the genetic basis of syncope and migraine comorbidity.