The prevalence and characteristics of migraine in twins from the general population.

We examined whether prevalence, age at onset, and cessation of migraine without aura and migraine with aura are different among twins and singletons. The study population was recruited from the population-based New Danish Twin Register and comprised 2026 monozygotic and 3334 same-sex dizygotic twins born during 1953 to 1960. A simple questionnaire was used to screen for migraine.

The relative influence of environment and genes in episodic tension-type headache.

Objective: To examine the relative importance of genetic and environmental influence for the development of tension-type headache by analyses of twins.

Methods: The authors screened by questionnaire a population of 5,360 twins born during 1953 to 1960 from the general population for migraine and headache symptoms. The response rate of the questionnaire was 87%.

Migraine without aura and migraine with aura are distinct disorders. A population-based twin survey.

Objective: To investigate the co-occurrence of migraine without aura (MWOA) and migraine with aura (MWA) in a population-based twin survey.

Background: Migraine without aura and MWA are multifactorial disorders. If MWOA and MWA share common genes, co-occurrence should be observed more frequently than expected, ie, the product of the prevalence in the general population.

Is the genetic liability in multifactorial disorders higher in concordant than discordant monozygotic twin pairs? A population-based family twin study of migraine without aura.

Migraine without aura (MO) is a multifactorial disorder. Expression of a disorder with multifactorial inheritance depends on the genetic liability and on environmental factors. A high liability is reflected by a high frequency of affected relatives.

Possible risk factors and precipitants for migraine with aura in discordant twin-pairs: a population-based study.

The aim of the present study was to detect possible risk factors in migraine with aura (MA) by analysis of discordant twin-pairs. In a recent population-based twin study we established that environmental factors account for approximately 50% of the variation in liability to MA. A cohort of 5,360 same-gender twin-pairs from the general population was screened for migraine.

[The significance of genetic and environmental factors for migraine with aura. A genetic epidemiologic study of Danish twins].

We studied the genetic and environmental influence on migraine with aura (MA) by analysing a twin population. The twin sample consisted of 2,026 monozygotic (MZ) pairs and 3,334 same-gender dizygotic (DZ) pairs recruited from the population-based Danish Twin Register. A total of 211 pairs were identified, of whom 77 were MZ and 134 were DZ.

Migraine without aura: a population-based twin study.

To investigate the importance of genetic and environmental factors to the etiology of migraine without aura and to compare the symptomatology of migraine without aura in monozygotic and dizygotic twins, 2,680 twin pairs were recruited from the population-based Danish Twin Registry. Monozygotic (MZ) and same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, where at least one twin had self-reported migraine or self-reported severe headache with accompanying symptoms, were telephone interviewed by a physician. The participation rate in the telephone interview was 90%.

The relative role of genetic and environmental factors in migraine without aura.

Objective: To clarify the relative role of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of migraine without aura (MO).

Methods: The study population consisted of 5,360 twins, 1,013 monozygotic (MZ) and 1,667 same-gender dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs, from the population-based Danish Twin Registry. A total of 87% completed a simple validated questionnaire screening for migraine.

The inheritance of migraine with aura estimated by means of structural equation modelling.

Studies of migraine with aura (MA) have shown familial aggregation of the disorder, which cannot be explained by simple mendelian inheritance. The interest in a genetic basis for the disorder has increased after identification of three genetic loci for familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), which is a rare subtype of MA with autosomal dominant inheritance. Both genetic and environmental factors seem to be important in the expression of MA.

Evidence of a genetic factor in migraine with aura: a population-based Danish twin study.

We studied the genetic influence on cause of migraine with aura (MA) by analyzing a twin population. The twin sample consisted of 2,026 monozygotic (MZ) twins and 3,334 same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins, born from 1953 to 1960, from the population-based New Danish Twin Register. A validated questionnaire was used to screen for migraine, the response rate being 87%, and similar among MZ and DZ twins.

[Clinical value of SPECT scanning in children with neurological disorders].

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical value of Tc-99-HMPAO brain single photon emission tomography (SPECT) in 21 children with neurological disorders of varied aetiology. All 21 patients were examined with electroencephalograms (EEGs), 17 with computed tomography (CT) and ten with magnetic resonance imaging (MR). New relevant information was obtained from SPECT in all 21 cases and in four of these cases the investigation directly led to a change in diagnosis and better assessment of the prognosis.

Screening for migraine in the general population: validation of a simple questionnaire.

We present validation of a simple questionnaire designed to screen the general population for migraine. It comprises four questions: (1) "Have you ever had migraine?" (2) "Have you ever had severe headache accompanied by nausea?" (3) "Have you ever had severe headache accompanied by hypersensitivity to sound and light?" (4) "Have you ever had visual disturbances lasting 5-60 min followed by headache?" A telephone interview carried out by a physician was used as an index of validity. The study population was 5,360 twins from the population-based Danish Twin Registry.

[Headache in children].

In this article the last 30 years of research concerning headaches in children, especially migraine headaches, is reviewed. The article is directed towards epidemiology, identification, classification, pathophysiology and management. Headache is a common medical complaint in children and adolescents, but diagnosis can be difficult, particularly in the very young.

Influence of compensated radioiodine therapy on thyroid volume and incidence of hypothyroidism in Graves' disease.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term effect of radioactive iodine (131I) on thyroid function and size in patients with Graves' disease.

Setting: Out-patient clinic in Herlev Hospital.

Subjects: One hundred and seventeen consecutive patients (104 women) with Graves' disease selected for 131I treatment and followed for a minimum of 12 months (range 1-10 years, median 5 years).

[Long-term effect of 131I therapy of multinodular non-toxic goiter].

The aim of this study was to investigate the long term effect of 131I treatment on thyroid function and size in patients with non-toxic multinodular goitre. The subjects were 69 consecutive patients with multinodular non-toxic goitre selected for 131I treatment and followed for a minimum of 12 months. Outcome measures were standard thyroid function variables and ultrasonically determined thyroid volume before and after treatment.

High frequency of thyroid dysfunction in patients with vitiligo.

An association between vitiligo and autoimmune thyroid disease has previously been suspected. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency and type of thyroid disease in 35 consecutive patients admitted because of vitiligo compared with a matched control group. One or more signs of thyroid disease was demonstrated in 15 out of 35 patients (43%) with vitiligo, as compared to 7 out of 35 (20%) in the matched control group (p = 0.

Radioiodine treatment of multinodular non-toxic goitre.

Objective: To investigate the long term effect of radioactive iodine on thyroid function and size in patients with non-toxic multinodular goitre.

Design: Consecutive patients with multinodular non-toxic goitre selected for radioactive iodine treatment and followed for a minimum of 12 months (median 48 months) after an intended dose of 3.7 MBq/g thyroid tissue corrected to a 100% uptake of iodine-131 in 24 hours.