Search for mitochondrial DNA mutations in migraine subgroups.

It has been suggested that mitochondrial mutations cause migraine(-like) symptoms. The presence of mtDNA mutations (3243, 3271, 11084, and deletions) was investigated in three migraine subgroups (maternally transmitted migraine with and without aura, migrainous infarction, and nonfamilial hemiplegic migraine). No mutations were found. These mutations and deletions probably are not involved in the migraine subgroups studied, although an investigation of other material (e.g., muscle tissue) would have shown this with more certainty.