JustNotRight wrote,

WOOHOO  Things are looking up for me, now if I can convince my stubborn as a mule father to at least try the D3 if not the nerve block everything would be rosy.


Although their is no hard evidence that CH's are hereditary.


My  :question is. How many family members do you know, that more than one family member suffers from CH's

Cheers, Hoppy.

There appears to be some genetic connection.

Sjaastad, O., Shen, J.-M., Stovner, L.J. and EIsås, T. (1993), Cluster Headache In Identical Twins. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 33: 214–217. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1993.hed33040214.x

Quote:

SYNOPSIS Twin brothers with cluster headache are described. Monozygosity was demonstrated by conventional genetic markers and DNA-typing. Both had “mini-bouts” in the early stages. In the one, attacks were always excruciatingly severe; in the other, they started out as “mild”, eventually becoming more severe. Both brothers also suffered from paroxysmal tachycardia. The connection between attacks of tachycardia and cluster headache remains enigmatic. The observation of cluster headache in monozygotic twins underscores the importance of genetic factors in the etiology. The ratio between cluster headache prevalence in close family members vs. prevalence in the general population may be higher in cluster headache than in migraine.

The Lancet Neurology, Volume 3, Issue 5, Pages 279 - 283, May 2004

Quote:

Summary Cluster headache, the most severe primary headache, is characterised by unilateral pain, ipsilateral autonomic features, and, in many cases, restlessness. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of cluster headache is about one person per 500. Genetic epidemiological surveys indicate that first-degree relatives are five to 18 times—and second-degree relatives, one to three times—more likely to have cluster headache than the general population. Inheritance is likely to be autosomal dominant with low penetrance in some families, although there may also be autosomal recessive or multifactorial inheritance in others. To date, no molecular genetic clues have been identified for cluster headache. Identification of genes for cluster headache is likely to be difficult because most families reported have few affected members and genetic heterogeneity is likely. Future focus should be on ion channel genes and clock genes. This review summarises the epidemiology and genetics of cluster headache.

Russell, M. (1997), Genetic epidemiology of migraine and cluster headache. Cephalalgia, 17: 683–701. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.1997.1706683.x
(can't copy / paste content but accessible via Google Scholar)

M.D. Kudrow, L. and M.D. Kudrow, D. B. (1994), Inheritance of Cluster Headache and its Possible Link to Migraine. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 34: 400–407. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1994.hed3407400.x


Quote:

SYNOPSIS We evaluated the possibility that cluster headache may be a transmitted disorder, influenced by migraine genetics. In the first part of a two part study, 24 female cluster headache probands having at least one first degree relative with cluster headache were evaluated for familial histories of cluster and migraine headache. Headache histories of most parents, sib-lings and children were satisfactorily documented by either direct interview or by information provided by knowledgeable relatives. In approximately a third of relatives, the headache history could not be properly ascertained. The second part of the study evaluated occurrence rates of cluster and migraine headaches among first degree relatives of 200 female and 100 male cluster headache patients, and the proportion of affected relatives. These data were compared to those of 200 women and 100 men with migraine headache; family history data were, for the most part, provided by headache patients. Twenty-four of two hundred cluster headache women (12%) had at least one first degree relative with cluster headache. Three generations of cluster headache were found in 7/ 24 kindreds (29.17%). Parental cluster headache was found in 19 of the 24 probands (79.17%); in 14/19 (73.68%), transmission was from father to proband. Fifty percent of cluster pro-bands also had migraine headaches, and almost 50% had a family history of migraine. Similarly, of the larger population of 300 cluster patients, approximately 45% had a positive family history of migraine. Of 1652 relatives of all cluster patients, 3.45% had cluster headache (thirteen times the expected frequency of cluster headache in the general population) and 17.55% had migraine headaches. The combined occurrence rate of cluster and migraine headaches among mothers or fathers of cluster patients differed little from the parents of migraine patients (X2 = 3.16, P <.10; X2 = 0.28, P < 0.70, respectively). Migraine was significantly more common, however, among some relatives of migraineurs compared to combined frequencies of migraine and cluster headache among relatives of cluster patients. Finally, the migraine population of Goodell et al.28 was compared to our cluster headache population for occurrence of either headache type among children where neither, one or both parents had headaches. The results for our cluster population was 36.33%, 48.07% and 71.43%, respectively; this distribution was not significantly different from the migraine group of Goodell et al. (28.6%, 44.2% and 69.2%),28 and conformed to a Mendelian pattern of transmission (X2 = 37.55, P < 0.001). Results of this study provided evidence suggesting a genetic basis for cluster headache. Equally compellingwere findings suggesting a genetic link between migraine and cluster headaches. The authors have speculatedthat migraine and cluster headache may be the same disorder, genotypically, but expression of the latter mayinvolve a more complex process requiring, as yet unknown, extrinsic or intrinsic influences.

I'm one of 14 siblings, our extended family numbers well over 100 now with nieces, nephews, grandkids, I'm still the only lucky one with CH!

Joe

Mike wrote,
There appears to be some genetic connection.

G'day Mike,
I've read other contradictory reports on this subject and
i believe i'ts still a grey area. I thought maybe we could
get a better picture by going right to the source, and what
better place than here at CH.com.

Hereditary factors are significant in migraine and might be expected to be important in the cluster headache syndrome because of their mechanistic and pharmacologic similarities.  However, it is uncommon to find other examples of cluster headache in the family history.  Among Kudrow's (1980) 495 patients, 18 reported the presence of the syndrome in a parent.  Migraine occurs no more frequently among the cluster headache population than among random population than among random populations (Andersson, 1985).  When migraine predates the commencement of cluster attacks, migraine usually ceases when the cluster attacks begin (Bickerstaff, 1959); thus, although these disorders are biologically distinct, their mechanisms are probably connected.

Joe wrote,
I'm still the only lucky one with CH!

Hi Joe,
Should'nt that be unlucky. ;)

Hoppy.

Ah hell think of all you cool people I never woulda met! ;D

Joe

Hi Joe,

[smiley=sayyes.gif]. That's for sure.

Hoppy.

To the best of my recollection, there is a slight correlation with close family members being at a slight increased risk of CH.  I have a sister with CH and 2 cousins who have problematic migraines.  Go figure.

Ray

Me Mom had migraines.. Nobody else in my family had the CH. I'm the 6th child, with many cousins, uncles and aunts that don't have the CH.

TCB
Coach Bill

Mike's referenced articles show that there is some hereditary elements involved.  Used to be some articles on the OUCH site and also a survey.

If I recall correctly, your kid has a 1.3% greater chance of having CH than the normal odds - which are pretty slim to start.

One factor that will play a large part in the statistics is the time to diagnosis (START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE - Cluster Headache in the United States of America:
Demographics, Clinical Characteristics, Triggers, Suicidality,and Personal Burden - Todd D. Rozen, MD, FAAN; Royce S. Fishman, BA:


Quote:

Time delay to diagnosis Less than 1 year 25% 1 year 7% 2 years 10% 3 years 9% 4 years 6% 5 years 7% 6 years 4% 7 years 4% 8 years 4% 9 years 2% 10+ years 22%

With 22% having to wait 10+ years for a diagnosis I suspect that there is a significant population who never get an accurate diagnosis. If someone has a close relative who has been diagnosed then they are at least likely to suggest a possible CH diagnosis to their relative and suggest they see a doctor who has diagnosed their CHs. This alone could account for the slight increase in the percentages of close relatives with CH.

Doing good science in this area is non-trivial, especially when trying to identify what may be a small increase in the risk of someone developing CH.

Quote:

If someone has a close relative who has been diagnosed then they are at least likely to suggest a possible CH diagnosis to their relative and suggest they see a doctor who has diagnosed their CHs. This alone could account for the slight increase in the percentages of close relatives with CH. Doing good science in this area is non-trivial, especially when trying to identify what may be a small increase in the risk of someone developing CH.

Those are some good points.

I have chronic ch and migraines.  My son, 27, has eposodic ch and migraines.  His identical twin escaped ha all together and doesn't have any.  My youngest son, 24, gets infrequent migraines only.  So the ha are in my family tree for sure.  It is a rare thing to see tho.

Hi All,
Thanks for all your replies. Unlike breast cancer which has
a hereditary gene, CH's do not. So in saying that, i still feel
more research needs to be done to prove it one way or another.

Hoppy.

I have CH, my father has it, and his father had it too. My sister may as well, but her current diagnosis is migraine, and my brother also suffers migraines.

Hi 3-foot,
I would say unlucky is an understatement. From stats
of 1/1000 suffering CH's. It looks like 3 out of 3,000
sufferes are your family members.

Hoppy.

Me and my dad both get CHs, the injections work for both of us. My dad was in a car wreck and hit his head and months layer his CHs started, me I wrecked my dirt bike and hit my head and my CHs started. The doctor told us both the knock on the head triggered what was already there waiting to get out. We both get the every other year and we get them at different times. It sucks but it is nice we both understand each other, and when were in a cycle and all pissed off ready to fight we go to each other to blow off steam because we get it.