Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining whether or not an individual has a predisposition to migraine including the step of determining whether an isolated nucleic acid obtained from the individual comprises a nucleotide sequence corresponding to at least a fragment of a dopamine ?-hydroxylase (DBH) gene promoter, wherein the presence of a ?1021C?T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in said nucleotide sequence indicates whether or not said individual has an increased predisposition to migraine compared to an individual without the polymorphism. DBH ?1021C/C homozygotes are particularly susceptible to migraine. The ?1021T allele may exert a protective effect. The method is particularly suited to detection of a predisposition to migraine with aura in females. The invention also provides a diagnostic kit for detecting a ?1021C?T SNP associated with migraine. The method and kit may facilitate selection of individuals for migraine therapy which targets the dopaminergic system.

Abstract: A method of determining whether an individual has a predisposition to migraine is provided, which method includes the step of isolating a nucleic acid that has a guanine to adenine polymorphism at nucleotide 2014 of a human estrogen receptor and/or a nucleic acid that has a 306 base pair insertion in intron 7 of a human progesterone receptor gene. The presence of either polymorphism is indicative of an increased predisposition to migraine. Furthermore, the presence of both the human estrogen receptor polymorphism and the human progesterone receptor gene polymorphism indicates a three-fold greater predisposition to migraine. Also provided are kits for use with these methods, the kits comprising primers and, optionally, a restriction endonuclease such as Btg1, for molecular detection of a genetic predisposition to migraine.