High headache prevalence among women with hemochromatosis: the Nord-Trøndelag health study.

Hagen, Knut; Stovner, Lars Jacob; Asberg, Arne; Thorstensen, Ketil; Bjerve, Kristian S; Hveem, Kristian · Ann Neurol · 2002

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

In this large cross-sectional population-based study, 51,272 persons responded to a headache questionnaire and were screened for hemochromatosis. Phenotypic hemochromatosis and the C282Y/C282Y genotype were both associated with an 80% increase in headache prevalence evident only among women. The reason for this association is unclear, but one may speculate that iron overload alters the threshold for triggering a headache by disturbing neuronal function.

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