Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The clinical profile of cluster headache, in Italy better known as "Horton's histaminic headache" is described. The Author makes an inventory of all pathogenetic theories about this excruciating pain syndrome that strikes men more than women. On the basis of findings of the Author and his School over a ten-year period, there is a "periodic lack of immunitary oversee". The salient points of various stages of this study are: low frequency of HLA-B14 antigen with, in contrast, high frequency of the HLA-DR5 antigen of the major histocompatibility system. The HLA B18 antigen of the same major histocompatibility system has been found in patients who respond to lithium therapy. A lack of the HLA-B18 antigen has been found in cluster headache patients who are "non-responders" to lithium therapy. Low titers of antibody response in the pain free periods of these subjects, and high titers in the painful periods has also been found in the serum of cluster headache patients; the lack of alpha 1-antitrypsin in basal conditions; increase of IgE (PRIST) values in painful periods; high titers of C1qSp and KgBt circulating immuno-complexes. The cellular immunity studies of the patients showed an increase of the leukocyte subpopulations Leu7+ and Leu M3+. Besides, the natural killer function that contributes to the defense-mechanism against viral disease, was very low. High titers of anti-herpes simplex 1 and 2 viruses and anti-Epstein-Barr virus have been found in cluster headache patients and in a few observations of Burkitt's lymphoma with associated cluster headache, studied in Sahel area too.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:New findings in cluster headache. 215 Apr 89

The existing relationship between genetic markers of the cluster headache and the efficacy of lithium salts therapy was described in the present study. Thirty-five patients suffering from cluster headache, who were already typed for the HLA antigens, were studied. Typing was carried out with the microlymphocytotoxicity technique used by US National Institutes of Health. The patients were treated with lithium carbonate for a period of three months. Three parameters for evaluation of the efficacy of lithium therapy was used: the percentage of improvement, the wake-sleep rhythm and the pupil diameter measurement. The parameters were statistically (Student's t-test) evaluated and it was possible to separate two subgroups of patients: "responders" and "non-responders" to the lithium therapy. The phenotypical frequencies in the two subgroups was analysed using the chi 2 test, Data emerging showed a higher frequency of antigen HLA-B18 (23.8% versus 0%; p less than 0.005 pc less than 0.06) and of antigen HLA-A9 (42.9% versus 14.3%) in the "responders" subgroup. In the "non-responders" subgroup a higher frequency of antigen HLA-A1 (35.7% versus 14.3%) was found.
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PMID:Genetic markers of cluster headache and the links with the lithium salts therapy. 345 93