HLA Antigens in Migraine

Fifty consecutive patients with migraine headaches were evaluated for the presence of 10 HLA-A and 14 HLA-B antigens by means of the microlymphocytotoxicity assay. Comparisons were made between classical and common migraine, and between patients with and without a family history of migraine. All groups of patients showed an association with B8 and B27, which failed to reach clinical significance. This data suggests that the multifactorial inheritance postulated for migraine probably does not require the participation of the HLA-A or B locus of the major histocompatibility complex.